March 29, 2013 - Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group

Vol. 71, No. 12 March 29, 2013 

Soldiers, friends and Family cheer as nearly 50 Soldiers return home at the Fort Carson 

Special Events Center during the 438th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services), 10th 

Army veterinarians return home 

Story and photo by Cpl. William Smith 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs 

When Capt. Paul Key, executive officer, 438th 

Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service), 10th 

Combat Support Hospital, marched into the Special 

Events Center for the unit’s redeployment ceremony 

March 22, he was welcomed back by a person he 

was not expecting. 

Message board 

The Veterans Crisis Line 

connects veterans, their 

families and friends with 

Veterans Affairs responders. 

Call 800-273-8255 and 

Press 1 or send a 

text message to 838255 

for confidential 

support 24/7. 

INSIDE 

Key’s best friend Capt. Jacob Abramowitz, 

executive officer, 11th Artillery Defense Air Brigade, 

Fort Bliss, Texas, surprised Key at the ceremony. 

“I totally did not expect him to be here,” Key 

said. “I am so excited. I can’t wait to catch up with 

my Family and friends.” 

The 438th Med. Det. deployed in June 2012, to 

support coalition forces’ health protection by providing 

comprehensive veterinary services, to include: food 

Pages 20-21 Page 13 

Combat Support Hospital, redeployment ceremony March 21. The detachment deployed to 

Afghanistan in June 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

safety inspection and defense, animal health care, 

veterinary preventive medicine and stability operations. 

Col. James R. Andrews, commander, 10th CSH, 

welcomed the Soldiers home and spoke of his pride 

in the unit. 

Andrews commented on the great success the 

unit had while accomplishing its mission, and that 

See Homecoming on Page 4 

Page 5

2 MOUNTAINEER — March 29, 2013 

MOUNTAINEER 

Commanding General: 

Maj. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera 

Garrison Commander: 

Col. David L. Grosso 

Fort Carson Public Affairs Officer: 

Dee McNutt 

Chief, Print and Web Communications: 

Rick Emert 

Editor: Devin Fisher 

Staff writer: Andrea Sutherland 

Happenings: Nel Lampe 

Sports writer: Walt Johnson 

Layout/graphics: Jeanne Mazerall 

This commercial enterprise newspaper is 

an authorized publication for members of the 

Department of Defense. Contents of the 

Mountaineer are not necessarily the official 

view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or 

the Department of the Army. Printed circulation 

is 12,000 copies. 

The editorial content of the 

Mountaineer is the respon sibility of the Public 

Affairs Office, Fort Carson, CO 80913-5119, 

Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail address is 

fcmountaineer@hotmail.com. 

The Mountaineer is posted on the 

Internet at http://csmng.com. 

The Mountaineer is an unofficial 

publication authorized by AR 360-1. The 

Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs 

Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in 

no way connected with the Department of the 

Army, under exclusive written contract with 

Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year. 

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does not constitute endorsement by the 

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The Mountaineer’s editorial content is 

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Affairs Office, building 1430, room 265, Fort 

Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144. 

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WLC honors 

Ethos epitome of true Soldier 

Commentary by Spc. Lauren M. Connelly 

Warrior Leader Course graduate 

Four simple phrases define who we are as the 

greatest fighting force in the world. To the average 

person, it’s a paragraph; to the American Warrior, 

it’s a way of life. 

The Warrior Ethos is not only the 

words you say when you recite the 

Soldier’s Creed, but the words you feel 

when you realize you’re a member of the 

greatest team in the world. To say it is 

one thing, but to live it is the epitome 

of being a true Soldier, the one who 

places the mission first, the one who 

refuses defeat, the one who, no matter 

what, will not quit and the one who 

will never leave a fallen comrade. 

The beauty of the Warrior Ethos is 

that it knows no military occupational 

specialty, and it appeals to everyone 

that has the privilege of putting on our 

uniform. When your skills have been tested 

to what you think are your limits to when 

you’re missing home and those who you love, the 

Warrior Ethos reminds us that wherever we are within our 

Spc. John A. Laporte 

Distinguished award 

Sgt. Neil P. Casey 

Leadership award 

Spc. Lauren M. Connelly 

Warrior Ethos award 

band of brothers and sisters we will always be home, 

because the ones to your left and right have the same 

objective, and live the same mantra. The pride that is felt 

in being able to serve our great nation can be seen in 

the actions that we carry out in our daily routines, which the 

Ethos provides us a foundation for. If you live by the 

Ethos, you could never go wrong — 

they are the four pillars of Army life. 

Soldiers have repeatedly proven that by 

living with these values we can accomplish 

anything. There were, and still are, Soldiers 

that left their blood, sweat, tears and even 

their lives in battle for accomplishment 

of their mission. Today, because of it, we 

are a better Army, and for each situation 

like that we become stronger — as a 

fighting force, as a country and a family. 

It’s because of these men and women 

that we’re able to continue what we do — 

living in freedom and knowing that 

when you look to your left and right, 

everything will be fine. 

It’s because of those that displayed 

the valor and character behind the 

Warrior Ethos yesterday, that we have the means to provide 

the same for today and for our future. 

Top WLC graduates 

Spc. Brian P. Bach, 704th BSB 

Sgt. Brett Brown, 743rd MI Bn. 

Spc. Robert S. Byrnes, 10th SFG(A) 

Sgt. Neil P. Casey, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Sgt. Ted C. Choate Jr., 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Cpl. John M. Coleman, 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Reg. 

Spc. Lauren M. Connelly, 2nd Med. Det. 

Sgt. Andrea E. Ekegren, 4th BSTB 

Sgt. Adam R. Fitzmaurice, 3rd Sqdn., 29th FA Reg. 

Spc. Ryan A. Fowler, 204th BSB 

Spc. Drew A. Hanshaw, 2nd Bn. 77th FA Reg. 

Sgt. Andre L. Holley, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg. 

Spc. Audryann C. Hood, 704th BSB 

Spc. Wesley D. Hooten, 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Sgt. Glenn R. Houghton, 704 BSB 

Spc. John A. Laporte, 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg. 

Sgt. Stephen D. Lee, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Spc. Dominik A. Maligranda, 2nd STB 

Sgt. Matthew T. Padgett, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Spc. Alexander M. Palaniuk, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Sgt. Charles A. Rance, 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Spc. Bryan E. Schermerhorn, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Sgt. Jeremiah P. Sichler, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg. 

Spc. Matthew P. Simms, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Spc. Robert A. Stringer, 10th CSH 

Sgt. Richard L. Teter, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg. 

Sgt. Brent Thomas, 204th BSB 

Sgt. Ryan M. Tomasko, 10th CSH 

Sgt. Joshua D. Way, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. 

Spc. Brittany M. Wheeler, 220th MP 

Sgt. Samuel K. White, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg. 

Send your letters or commentaries to 

fcmountaineer@hotmail.com.

What is a quality education? At PPCC quality means small class sizes so 

students get personal attention, using the latest technology to stay ahead of 

the curve and working with faculty who are leaders in their fi eld. 

PPCC.EDU 

March 29, 2013 — MOUNTAINEER 

Sequester furlough planning complex 

By Robert Dozier 

U.S. Army Installation Management Command 

SAN ANTONIO — There’s no shortcut to make 

the pending Proposal of Notification Letter easier or 

quicker to produce. Officials across the Army await 

the exact details and wording of the furlough communication 

to minimize confusion among employees. 

Employees of the U.S. Army Installation 

Management Command are expected to receive their 

notification letters soon. Officials now estimate that 

furlough notices will go out on or about April 5, 

said Navy Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde, a Pentagon 

spokesperson, in a recent announcement. 

Before notifications can be made, human 

“With civilian personnel all across 

the Army anticipating furloughs, 

approximately 27,000 IMCOM 

employees are waiting to find 

out if they, as individuals, are 

going into temporary nonduty 

and nonpay status.” 

quality. expect it. 

resource officials are expecting a signed memo from 

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and 

Reserve Affairs Thomas R. Lamont. In that memo 

will come specific guidance for conducting the 

furlough process. 

With civilian personnel all across the Army 

anticipating furloughs, approximately 27,000 

IMCOM employees are waiting to find out if they, as 

individuals, are going into temporary nonduty and 

nonpay status. Those employees will be notified 

directly by their supervisors. 

Once employees are notified, several things must be 

accomplished. They will first acknowledge in writing 

their receipt of notification. They will then have seven 

days to exercise their right to reply. Employees may 

appeal orally or in writing to the 

designated reply official. 

Also, supervisors will inform 

employees of their exact furlough 

schedule. IMCOM is considering 

various methods to balance the work 

schedule, including a shortened 

4-day workweek, but no decision 

has been made. 

Finally, supervisors will distribute 

decision notification notices to 

employees to begin the furlough 

schedule. These letters are expected 

to go out the week ending April 19, 

in time for the following furlough 

week. Then furloughs are expected 

to continue for 22 discontinuous 

days or one day per week for the 

3 

remainder of the fiscal year. Employees may appeal 

the agency’s decision to the Merit System 

Protection Board within 30 days from the effective 

date of the furlough. 

A furlough places an employee in a temporary 

nonduty and nonpay status. IMCOM is furloughing 

its employees as a result of the Budget Control Act 

passed Aug. 2, 2011. The act requires more than 

$487 billion in cuts from the defense base budget 

over 10 years, beginning in fiscal 2013. These cuts 

are commonly referred to as the “sequester.” 

IMCOM is taking other steps to help preserve 

financial resources during sequester. These include 

close scrutiny of 783 contracts across the IMCOM 

garrisons with a performance period starting in 

May or later. Contracts under review may be new 

awards or contracts with options scheduled for 

extension during this period. 

Most of the contracts under review fall in the 

municipal services arena. These include pest control, 

refuse, custodial care and grounds maintenance 

services. To maintain fiscal goals during sequester, 

IMCOM must make contracting decisions for the 

balance of fiscal 2013 and into fiscal 2014; however, 

no enterprisewide contracting decisions have been 

made so far. 

Active-duty, Reserve and National Guard 

servicemembers are exempt from furloughs. 

While the furlough is the equivalent of an 8.5 

percent annual reduction in pay, each employee will 

experience a 20 percent reduction during the last five 

See Furlough on Page 4


Electronic access control receives upgrade 

Mountaineer staff 

Fort Carson officials will upgrade 

the electronic access control capability 

to the RAPIDGate RCx/JGS systems, 

Monday. 

The system leverages technology 

for security guards and military police 

at the gates by using hand-held scanners 

to electronically authenticate a range of 

identification credentials for personnel 

accessing the installation. 

The RCx component provides the 

Directorate of Emergency Services with 

the capability to vet driver’s licenses 

issued by all 50 states and all U.S. 

Homecoming 

from Page 1 

even through the harsh environment, there were 

a number of re-enlistments and promotions. 

The unit also supported the Afghan 

National Army on two fronts by training 

medics on food sanitation and protection, as 

well as on rabies control and risk reduction, 

which included vaccinating sentry dogs. The 

unit directly supported the Farah Provincial 

Reconstruction Team and Farah Department 

of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock by 

providing veterinary training and advanced 

veterinary classes. 

During their deployment, 438th Med. 

Det. Soldiers tested food from 50 dining 

facilities in Afghanistan, using the first 

surveillance lab ever established in theater, 

which helped identify food safety issues 

before they affected personnel. They also 

conducted food inspections for more than 130 

forward operating bases and combat outposts 

throughout Regional Command South, 

Southwest and West, saving the government 

more than $15 million. 

As the Soldiers filed into the SEC, cheers 

Furlough 

from Page 3 

months of fiscal 2013. IMCOM realizes and regrets 

this hardship on employees. 

For those employees who are enrolled in 

the Thrift Savings Plan through payroll deductions, 

TSP offers some relief. Go to its website at 

https://www.tsp.gov/lifeevents/entering/enteringGov 

Service.shtml and explore the nonpay status options. 

While on furlough, there will be strict adherence 

to employee standards — for example, overtime and 

compensatory time are curtailed, and no employee 

will be allowed to volunteer 

services to their 

organization during the 

furlough. Telework and 

the use of government 

issued electronics, such 

territories against open source law 

enforcement databases such as the 

FBI Ten Most Wanted; FBI Most 

Wanted Terrorist; FBI Crimes Against 

Children; U.S. Marshal’s Most 

Wanted; International Criminal Police 

Organization Wanted Fugitives; 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 

and Explosives Most Wanted; and 

U.S. Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement Most Wanted lists. 

The JGS component will validate 

Department of Defense-issued ID 

cards such as comman access card, 

dependent ID and retired ID against 

the Defense Enrollment Eligibility 

and screams of joy erupted from their 

Families and loved ones. Soldiers sang the 

Army Song, before being released to reunite 

with their Families. 

Friends and Family rushed to reunite with 

their Soldiers with smiles, tears and open 

arms once the ceremony concluded. 

“I am so relieved,” said Elizabeth Sager, 

spouse of Staff Sgt. Thomas Sager, animal 

care specialist, 438th Med. Det. “The hardest 

part of him being gone was keeping him in 

the forefront with the kids. Letting them 

know that he was thinking about them, that he 

missed them, that he was doing his job and 

what had to be done; but he still thought of 

them, still loved them and was missing them. 

“I’m just glad they’re home safe and this 

is over,” Elizabeth Sager said. “We can get 

back to living our lives. I’m glad the worrying 

is over.” 

After the long wait, Families left the SEC 

to spend long overdue quality time together. 

“I feel very relaxed now that I am home 

with my Family,” said Sgt. Nathan Kuhnle, 

animal care specialist, 438th Med. Det. “I 

can’t wait to spend as much time as I can 

with them.” 

Reporting System database to verify 

if the ID presented is still a current 

and valid ID. Additionally, the system 

allows DES to upload the installation 

roster and validate entry requests 

against this list. 

The new upgrades will seamlessly 

integrate with the existing RAPIDGate 

program, which has been in use at the 

gates since March 2007 and is used by 

contractors and vendors on a daily basis. 

The handheld scanners are FIPS 

201 compliant and no personally 

identifiable information is stored. 

There is no registration requirement 

for DOD IDs, unlike the previous 

as mobile phones, laptops or tablet computers, will 

not be permitted on furlough days. 

During the furlough period, the accumulation of 

annual and sick leave will be slowed. Leave is earned 

each pay period depending upon the pay status of the 

employee and the number of hours worked. With 

fewer hours comes a proportional decrease in 

the accrual of leave hours. Employees can obtain the 

exact status on their leave and earnings statements. 

Some scheduled annual leave during the furlough 

may be cancelled by the commander to fulfill 

manpower shortages. Management will be looking 

closely at leave schedules to balance the demands of 

Automated Installation Entry system. 

This system will also be installed at the 

DES Vehicle Registration Office located 

at building 6012 outside Gate 1, allowing 

visitors to be screened and issued a 

pass prior to coming to the gates if the 

security situation changes, requiring 

additional security measures. 

Incorporating these technologies 

will enhance the installation’s security 

posture by helping to identify fraudulent 

and forged ID cards, personnel who 

have been barred from installation 

entry and wanted felons. Contact the 

DES Security and Access Control 

Division at 526-5543 for more infor- 

Spc. Bozena Weber, animal care specialist, 438th Medical Detachment 

(Veterinary Service), 10th Combat Support Hospital, reunites with her 

son, Derek, and daughter, Danica, at the Fort Carson Special Events 

Center during the 438th Med. Det. redeployment ceremony March 21. 

The detachment deployed to Afghanistan in June 2012 in support of 

Operation Enduring Freedom. 

For more information on how sequestration and furloughs affect the IMCOM 

workforce, go to http://www.imcom.army.mil/Organization/G1Personnel.aspx. 

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/4THID 

WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/USER/THE4ID 

the mission. Employees are reminded to work closely 

with supervisors on leave schedules, especially 

around these upcoming federal holidays: May 27 

(Memorial Day), July 4 (Independence Day) and 

Sept. 2 (Labor Day). 

Before seeking any part-time employment in 

the civilian sector, employees should discuss with 

their supervisor to assure they have met all ethics 

requirements. 

While health benefits, flexible spending accounts, 

federal group life insurance, vision and dental plans, and 

federal long term care plans are not impacted during this 

furlough period, the employee will still be responsible 

for the full premiums due 

for these benefits. 

WWW.SLIDESHARE.NET/THE4ID 

No decision has 

been made regarding the 

termination of temporary 

and term employees. 

WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/THE4ID 

WWW.TWITTER.COM/@4THINFDIV

Soldiers of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat 

Team, 4th Infantry Division, prepare to drive their M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles 

back to their company assembly area at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, March 1. 

“Talon” Soldiers participated in the monthlong field training exercise that saw a 

shift from counterinsurgency operations to more traditional force-on-force training. 

The Colorado 

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Call Kathy Bernheim at 329-5204 for more information 

4-6 ...... The Elders - Celtic 

Rock 

4-15 .... HAPA from Hawaii 

4-19 .... The Long Run 

Colorado’s tribute 

to the Eagles 

4-20 .... Moses Jones Dance 

Party 

5-18 .....Junior Brown 

an American Original 

5-25 .... Phat Horn Doctors 

Dance Party 

6-1 ...... Dotsero...Jazz 

8-7 ...... Asleep At The Wheel 

8-22 .... Sons of the Pioneers 

...and many more 

great events 


Warhorse finishes PCMS rotation 

By Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch 

2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 

4th Infantry Division 

Below freezing temperatures, long work hours and 

dedicated Soldiers defined a monthlong field exercise 

where 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, 

trained at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, Feb. 18 through 

March 20. 

“Warhorse” Soldiers, in preparation for a rotation to 

the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., later this 

summer, conducted force-on-force training that included 

decisive action training, counter insurgency operations 

and basic skills training related to Soldier specific jobs. 

“Coming out of here, the goal was to be NTC 

ready,” said Col. Omar Jones IV, commander, 2nd BCT. 

“I think we are that and then some.” 

With the brigade preparing for any possible 

deployment, this was the first chance for units to test 

their abilities to conduct force-on-force operations and 

show they are battle ready. 

During the operations, units maneuvered vehicles 

as a battalion-size force, and Soldiers focused on specific 

job-related tasks such as long-range communications or 

See PCMS on Page 11 

Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pull security 

before entering a building in the mock city of Ujan at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, March 14. Soldiers conducted 

a hybrid of decisive action and counterinsurgency training, combining pre- and post-9/11 tactics. 

Wednesday 

April 3 

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10 S. Parkside Dr. Colorado Springs 

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5


WTB welcomes 

new commander 

By Stacy Neumann 

Medical Department Activity 

Public Affairs 

Lt. Col. Mechelle Tuttle handed the 

reins of the Fort Carson Warrior 

Transition Battalion over to Lt. Col. 

Aaron Termain in a ceremony March 21 

at Founders Field. 

Col. John McGrath, Medical 

Department Activity and Evans Army 

Community Hospital commander, 

transferred the command and unit colors 

in front of Family, friends, colleagues, 

Soldiers and community partners. 

McGrath recounted Tuttle’s dedication 

to her Soldiers’ healing and transition, 

her innovative solutions and how the Fort 

Carson WTB has become a model for 

others to emulate. 

“Lt. Col. Tuttle’s greatest legacy is in 

the vast number of Soldiers she and her 

team have guided to either return to duty 

status or transitioned to become proud, 

productive and successful veterans in our 

communities. You can find these men 

and women thriving all over the United 

States. There is no greater measure of 

success,” McGrath said. 

Tuttle thanked the many community 

organizations, staff members and 

others who work together with the 

wounded, ill and injured servicemembers 

on their recovery. 

“No day is the same. No job is the 

same,” she said. “We are constantly facing 

unique challenges. We were always 

able to find a solution.” 

She said her time at the WTB will 

leave an indelible mark on more than just 

her career. 

“The daily encounters I experienced 

with these inspiring men and women 

who faced daily struggles and fought for 

our freedoms will be forever etched in 

my mind,” she said. 

Tuttle now moves on to attend the 

U.S. Army War College. 

McGrath expressed confidence that 

the WTB would remain in good hands 

under Termain. 

“I’m profoundly thankful to be 

standing here today, and I look forward to 

continuing the accomplishments made 

under Lt. Col. Tuttle,” Termain said. 

Lt. Col. Aaron Termain, incoming 

commander, Fort Carson Warrior Transition 

Battalion, hands the guidon to WTB Command 

Sgt. Maj. Dennis M. Lawrence during the 

change of command ceremony March 21 at 

Founders Field as U.S. Army Medical 

Department Activity-Fort Carson Commander 

Col. John McGrath, left, and Lt. Col. Mechelle 

Tuttle, outgoing commander, look on. 

Let’s stop talking about burgers 

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our appreciation on this day we are offering 

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with other offers, discounts or promotional gift cards. Phone-in or online orders will not 

be accepted for this promotion. Valid on 4/6/13 only. 

Welcome 

Home! 

We celebrate the success, honor the 

service, and remember the sacrifi ce by 

members of the United States Armed 

Forces on a National Day of Honor. 

March 19, 2013 

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7


Courtesy photo 

Members of the Fort Carson Special Reaction Team practice breaching March 15 as part of 

a weeklong SWAT basic course led by members of the Fountain Police Department. 

We invite you to attend 

Cheyenne Mountain Charter 

Academy’s 3rd Annual 

Spring Benefi t Bash 

Thursday, April 25th from 

6:00-10:00 p.m. at the 

Cheyenne Mountain Resort. 

The fundraiser evening will include a 

fabulous sit down dinner, entertaining 

casino games, a friendly dessert 

dash, the popular wine pull, silent and 

live auctions, and great company! 

All proceeds will directly support 

CMCA’s K-12 programs. 

Register at attend at www.cmca12.com/SBB 

Sponsored by Broadmoor Dental 

Some 

of these 

featured 

auction 

items: 

All-Event tickets 

and a Backstage 

Tour for 2 to the 

2014 U.S. Figure 

Skating Olympic 

Trials in Boston 

One-Day 

Disneyland 

Park 

Hopper 

Passes 

for 4 

Extreme Zip 

Lining & Rafting 

for 4 (from Royal 

Gorge Rafting & 

Zipline Tours) 

4 Tickets to 

The Nutcracker 

(from Colorado 

Springs 

Philharmonic) 

Sunday 

Brunch for 

2 at The 

Broadmoor 

Bronco 

Billy’s Stay 

& Play 

Package 

for 2 

SRT, Fountain 

SWAT join forces 

By Andrea Sutherland 


For 40 hours, members of Fort 

Carson’s newly formed Special 

Reaction Team partnered with 

Fountain SWAT and police department 

officials, participating in 

detainment operations, vehicle 

assaults, hostage rescue and 

weapons training. 

“They’re hungry,” said Patrol 

Cpl. Donivan Livingston, Fountain 

Police Department. “I’ve taught a 

lot of SWAT courses to a lot of 

departments, and you usually have one 

or two bad apples who aren’t willing 

to learn. Not these guys. Their 

attitudes stayed great the whole 

time. They wanted to learn and they 

wanted to learn how to improve.” 

Livingston said 12 members 

of the Fountain police served as 

negotiators, emergency communicators 

and evaluators for the exercises, 

which put the 20-person SRT 

through planning, operational and 

debriefing phases. 

“I think (the partnership) is a 

plus,” he said. “We do things they can’t 

do, and they do things we can’t do.” 

The equivalent of a civilian 

 

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“The training provided a good 

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“If we need an asset or they 

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that relationship,” he said. “We’re 

training together, so we’re fluid 

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French agreed. 

“Everyone has different tactics,” 

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huge advantage of training. Learning 

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Reception Company helps Soldiers in-process 

Story and photo by 

Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault 

4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs 

Office, 4th Infantry Division 

When Capt. Peter M. Matthews, commander, 

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Combat 

Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, arrived, there 

were six Soldiers in the brigade and no system was in 

place for in-processing inbound personnel. 

This issue for Matthews and other incoming 

Soldiers prompted brigade leaders to set up a 

Reception Company in April 2012, which 

has now received and in-processed more 

than 1,100 Soldiers into the unit. 

“It is not usual for a brigade to 

have its own reception company, but 

for a new unit standing up it is a 

necessity,” said Matthews. “We identified 

this problem and put together a 

group of Soldiers into a functional 

reception company to produce fully 

in-processed Soldiers.” 

Most Soldiers get fully in-processed 

when they arrive to a post, but because the 

CAB is standing up, more in-processing 

at the brigade level is needed due to 

lack of personnel in certain key leader 

roles, Matthews said. 

At 4th CAB’s reception, some 

Soldiers are still dealing with personal 

issues such as moving, financial problems 

and child care. The reception staff makes 

sure Soldiers are accommodated and 

problems are resolved as much as 

possible before they report for duty. 

The Reception Company, 4th CAB, 

Soldiers also work to maintain a functional sponsorship 

program to welcome incoming Soldiers and address 

issues about six months before they arrive. 

“Sponsorship is important,” said Staff Sgt. Tracie 

Higdon, sponsorship noncommissioned officer in 

charge, Reception Company, 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div. 

“We let incoming Soldiers know what to expect when 

they arrive, address issues before they arrive and 

orient them to the surrounding areas.” 

The Reception Company also gives jobs to 

Soldiers within the unit who do not currently have 

equipment or ability to do their military jobs. 

9 

“It’s a great thing that we are being allowed to 

do this job,” said 1st Sgt. L.T. Whittley, senior 

enlisted leader, Reception Company, 4th CAB. 

“The Reception Company puts together Soldiers 

from different military occupational specialties and 

allows them to learn other jobs.” 

The 4th CAB Reception Company will remain 

active until all 2,700 Soldiers arrive, units are activated 

and subordinate units are capable of in-processing their 

own Soldiers. Whittley said he thinks the Reception 

Company will dissolve into the CAB a couple of 

months after all expected Soldiers have arrived. 

Sgt. Alisha Kaiser, day 

two noncommissioned 

officer, Reception 

Company, 4th Combat 

Aviation Brigade, 4th 

Infantry Division, goes 

over an in-processing 

packet with Spc. Roderick 

Farley, automated 

logistical specialist, 

4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., at 

the brigade’s reception 

building, Feb. 20.


St. Barbara’s Day goes off with a ‘BOOM’ 


Sgt. Grady Jones 

3rd Brigade Combat Team Public 

Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division 

Artillerymen held their annual 

event, the St. Barbara’s Day Ball, March 

7, at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. 

The 3rd Battalion, 29th Field 

Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade 

Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, 

held the event to pay tribute to St. 

Barbara, the U.S. Army Field Artillery 

patron saint, and to award recipients 

with the Order of St. Barbara and 

Molly Pitcher awards. 

“St. Barbara’s Day is the one day 

out (of) the year when we can celebrate 

our branch,” said Maj. John Eddy, 

executive officer, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg. 

St. Barbara’s Day is normally 

celebrated Dec. 4, but the unit held the 

event in March due to its recent return 

from a nine-month deployment in 

Afghanistan, Eddy said. 

According to legend, St. Barbara 

was kept secluded in a tower to 

preserve her virginity, by her jealous 

pagan father, Dioscorus. While 

Dioscorus was away, St. Barbara 

converted to Christianity. Enraged 

about his daughter’s conversion, 

Dioscorus denounced St. Barbara 

before a civil tribunal. She was then 

tortured, and eventually sentenced to 

death by beheading. Dioscorus, who 

carried out the sentence himself, was 

struck and killed by lightning and his 

body was consumed by flame, after 

carrying out St. Barbara’s sentence. St. 

Barbara was venerated in the seventh 

century and was then considered to 

be the Patron Saint of danger from 

thunderstorms, fire and sudden death. 

She is invoked to protect against 

explosions due to the fact that early 

artillery often had a habit of exploding 

instead of successfully firing projectiles 

from cannons. 

During the St. Barbara’s Day ball, 

12 Soldiers received Honorable Order 

of Saint Barbara medals, which have an 

effigy of St. Barbara on one side and a 

relief of a cannon on the other. 

Sgt. 1st Class Dewanda Beasley, 

senior food service specialist noncommissioned 

officer, 3rd BCT, received 

The Honorable Order of St. Barbara 

medallion for her work and contri - 

butions when she was assigned as a 

“Pacesetter” Soldier. 

“I spent time with Company G, 

3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg., as the executive 

officer and senior food service noncommissioned 

officer,” said Beasley. 

Military spouses at the ball were 

also honored and awarded the Artillery 

Order of Molly Pitcher. 

“Molly Pitcher,” or Mary Hayes 

Ludwig McCauley, was married to 

William Hays, a barber who enlisted in 

the Continental Army and became a 

gunner in the Pennsylvania Artillery. 

McCauley attained the title as “Molly 

Pitcher” at the Battle of Monmouth 

when she worked with her husband 

during the Revolutionary war. 

McCauley would bring water for the 

troops and cannons when they would 

call out to “Molly Pitcher.” 

Another person to have been given 

the nickname “Molly Pitcher” was 

Margaret Corbin, who replaced her 

husband, John Corbin, as an artillery 

gunner immediately following his 

death at the Battle of Fort Washington, 

current day Manhattan Island, New 

York, Nov. 16, 1776, during the 

Revolutionary War. 

The Molly Pitcher Award is given by 

the U.S. Field Artillery Association and 

the Air Defense Association to recognize 

wives of artillerymen who have significantly 

contributed to the improvement 

of the artillery communities. 

A total of 10 wives in 3rd Bn., 29th 

FA Reg., received the award to include 

Danielle Butzin, wife of Sgt. Timothy 

Butzin, a multichannel transmission 

systems operator-maintainer, Head - 

quarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd 

Bn., 29th FA Reg. 

Danielle Butzin was awarded for 

her volunteer work and for being a 

Family readiness group leader. 

“I was surprised to receive the 

award,” Danielle Butzin said. “I was 

honored and humbled.” 

For some, “Molly Pitcher” is the 

epitome of what a military spouse is 

supposed to do. 

“She went above and beyond,” 

Danielle Butzin said. “We are expected 

to stand by our husbands and support 

We have your 

community covered 

The Fort Carson Community 

The Peterson Air Force Base and 

The NORAD Community 

The Legal & Financial Community 

Lt. Col. Derek Knuffke, commander, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 

bestows the Honorable Order of St. Barbara medallion upon Capt. Teresa Christie, 

commander, Company G, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg., at the unit’s St. Barbara’s Day Ball held 

at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, March 7. 

their careers. Not only did (Margaret 

Corbin) support her husband’s career, 

but she helped with his job when he 

was unable to do it. 

“To be placed in the same category 

as her is incredible,” Danielle Butzin said. 

Col. Timothy J. Daugherty, commander, 

214th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill, 

Okla., was guest speaker for the night. 

“I’m so honored to be here 

tonight,” said Daugherty. “I love being 

a Soldier.” 

One of the main points Daugherty 

spoke about was serving others. 

“You will never be happy in life 

unless you do something outside the 

circle of yourself and for other people,” 

he said. “The Army allows us to do 

that every day. Our job is about 

protecting our society, our nation and 

the ones we love.” 

Daugherty also spoke about 

The Business Community 

The Schriever Air Force Base Community 

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increasing the strength of Army Families 

and the competitive atmosphere that 

can occur in military Family homes. 

“What builds respect with your 

spouse is telling her that you appreciate 

her,” Daugherty said. “Treating your 

spouses with respect is what will get 

you to the desired end state.” 

The formal event concluded with 

informal dancing and music. 

“The St. Barbara’s Day Ball is in 

keeping with the U.S. Field Artillery 

history and traditions,” said Command 

Sgt. Maj. Joe Clayton, senior enlisted 

leader, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg. “It showed 

new Soldiers what artillery is all about.” 

The St. Barbara’s Day Ball event 

helped to build esprit de corps and 

build camaraderie for the “Pacesetters” 

following the deployment, said Eddy. 

“(The ball) helped us get back to 

our artillery roots,” Eddy said.

PCMS 

from Page 5 

logistical convoys to supply remote 

locations. In between the force-onforce 

training, Soldiers worked on their 

ability to carry out counterinsurgency 

operations, such as searching buildings 

and engaging civilians in a mock city. 

“By this time on our training pool, 

I have never seen a brigade more 

combat ready,” said Sgt. Maj. Kevin 

Muhlenbeck, operations sergeant 

major, 2nd BCT. “I think as long as we 

stay grounded, do not overestimate our 

abilities and do not underestimate the 

enemy’s abilities, we can go toe-to-toe 

with any mechanized armored force 

in the world.” 

This was the first time newer 

Warhorse Soldiers conducted decisive 

action training, which is used to 

ensure Soldiers can engage an enemy 

Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 67th Armor 

Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th 

Infantry Division, clean the track of 

an M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle in 

preparation for movement back to Fort 

Carson, at the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site 

rail yard, March 14. “Death Dealer” Soldiers 

conducted a monthlong field training 

exercise to hone their skills in decisive 

action, which is force-on-force training. 

mechanized force. For others it 

refreshed skills they hadn’t used 

in the current conflicts during 

counter insurgency operations. 

The biggest take away from the 

training was breaking away from 

going out on a mission for a couple 

of hours and returning to a forward 

operating base, said Muhlenbeck. 

Though the training mainly 

focused on mechanized battles, 

the brigade incorporated tactics 

used in the unit’s deployment to 

Afghanistan last year in support of 

Operation Enduring Freedom. 

“It’s a hybrid threat,” said 

Muhlenbeck. “We can be fighting a 

decisive action fight in the morning, 

out in the field slugging it out with 

another armor force, and instead of just 

passing villages like we used to, you 

actually have to go in there and clear 

the insurgent and criminal element out.” 

As Soldiers returned to Fort 

Carson, the first thing on the schedule 

was recovery operations. 

Cleaning out vehicles, conducting 

maintenance and getting all the 

Photo by Maj. Chris Maestas 

March 29, 2013 — MOUNTAINEER 11 

Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch 

Spc. Christopher 

Rogers, combat 

engineer, 

Company C, 2nd 

Special Troops 

Battalion, 2nd 

Brigade Combat 

Team, 4th 

Infantry 

Division, uses 

an M9 Armored 

Combat 

Earthmover to 

dig a fighting 

position Feb. 26 

at Piñon Canyon 

Maneuver Site. 

equipment back to a high standard is 

important, said Muhlenbeck. Verifying 

all paperwork is up-to-date is next and 

then personal recovery comes. 

Soldiers will be allotted time to 

recover and spend time with their 

Families or take a vacation. 

“Everyone needs that time,” said 

Muhlenbeck. “It’s about 10 days of 

very good, hard-earned rest. These 

guys need to go home, spend time with 

their kids, spouses and extended family 

and take care of themselves.” 

After the rest period, it is back to 

work in preparation for NTC, and 

senior leadership expectations are high. 

“I’m incredibly excited that we have 

two months to capture what we have done 

here,” said Jones. “Get better with all 

our Standard Operating Procedures, get 

better with some retraining and take 

that to NTC. I’m really (excited) to see 

what we are going to come out with on 

the other side (of NTC).”

12 

MOUNTAINEER — March 29, 2013 

Miscellaneous 

German Armed Forces Military Proficiency Badge 

— training and testing is conducted monthly. Events 

include swimming, marksmanship, track and field 

events (100-meter dash, shot put, long jump or high 

jump and 3,000-meter run or 1,000-meter swim) 

and a 12-kilometer road march. Upon completion 

of all required events, Soldiers are awarded a 

badge in gold, silver or bronze level — determined 

by results of the marksmanship and road march. 

This is a foreign military award authorized to be 

worn on the Class-A or Army Service Uniform. 

Soldiers should submit packets through their chain 

of command to Sgt. Michael Phillips at 524-4944 

or email michael.j.phillips6.mil@mail.mil. For 

more information contact Chief Warrant Officer 4 

David Douglas at 720-250-1221 or email 

david.douglas1.mil@mail.mil. 

Shaving study — The Evans Army Community 

Hospital Dermatology Clinic is conducting a 

research study looking at various razors and topical 

products to assist with shaving bumps. Soldiers 

must have at least 10 lesions and be available for 

three office visits during a 12-week period. Male 

and female participants will be provided with 

shaving supplies, a tote bag and topical creams. 

Call 526-7185 for more information. A referral 

from a primary care manager is not necessary. 

Finance travel processing — All inbound and 

outbound Temporary Lodging Expense, “Do it 

Yourself ” Moves, servicemember and Family 

member travel, travel advance pay and travel pay 

inquiries will be handled in building 1218, room 231. 

Call 526-4454 or 524-2594 for more information. 

Points only, nondeployable unit — Reinforcement 

training units provide an opportunity for Individual 

Ready Reserve Soldiers who want to maintain 

Reserve affiliation and continue their military 

career. Soldiers of any rank or military occupational 

specialty considering leaving troop program unit 

assignment can consider the 6399th RTU as a 

short- or long-term option. Benefits include earning 

retirement points and “good” years; optional 

monthly nonpaid drill weekends; continued military 

training and military schools; paid annual training 

opportunities; continued promotions; earning 

retirement points via correspondence courses; 

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance; and easy 

transfer to TPUs if desired. Contact Chief Warrant 

Officer 4 Lake Gardner at 720-363-0511 or 

lakegardner@comcast.net. 

Recycle incentive program — The Directorate of 

Public Works has an incentive program to 

prevent recyclable waste from going to the landfill. 

Participating battalions can earn monetary rewards 

for turning recyclable materials in to the Fort Carson 

Recycle Center, building 155. Points are assigned for 

the pounds of recyclable goods turned in and every 

participating battalion receives money quarterly. Call 

526-5898 for more information about the program. 

First Sergeants’ Barracks Program 2020 — is 

located in building 1454 on Nelson Boulevard. 

The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Monday-Friday. The office assists Soldiers with 

room assignments and terminations. For more 

information call 526-9707. 

Sergeant Audie Murphy Club — The Fort Carson 

Sergeant Audie Murphy Club meets the third 

Tuesday of each month at the Family Connection 

Center from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The SAMC 

is open to all active members and those interested 

in becoming future SAMC members. The club 

was originally a U.S. Forces Command organization 

of elite noncommissioned officers but is now an 

Armywide program for those who meet the criteria 

and have proven themselves to be outstanding 

NCOs through a board/leadership process. 

Contact SAMC president Sgt. 1st Class Dawna 

Brown at 526-3983 for information. 

Directorate of Public Works services — DPW is 

Special Forces briefings are 

held Wednesdays from noon 

to 1 p.m. 

Special Operations Forces 

briefings are held 

Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. 

Briefings are held in building 1430, room 123. Call 

524-1461 or visit http://www.bragg.army.mil/sorb. 

Fort Carson dining facilities hours of operation 

DFAC Friday-Monday (DONSA/weekend) Tuesday-Thursday 

Stack Breakfast: 7-9 a.m. 

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Dinner: 5-6:30 p.m. 

responsible for a wide variety of services on Fort 

Carson. Services range from repair and maintenance 

of facilities to equipping units with a sweeper and 

cleaning motor pools. Listed below are phone 

numbers and points of contact for services: 

• Facility repair/service orders — Fort 

Carson Support Services service order desk can be 

reached at 526-5345. Use this number for emergencies 

or routine tasks and for reporting wind damage, 

damaged traffic signs or other facility damage. 

• Refuse/trash and recycling — Call Eric 

Bailey at 719-491-0218 or email eric.e.bailey4. 

civ@mail.mil when needing trash containers, trash 

is overflowing or emergency service is required. 

• Facility custodial services — Call Bryan 

Dorcey at 526-6670 or email bryan.s.dorcey.civ@ 

mail.mil for service needs or to report complaints. 

• Elevator maintenance — Call Bryan 

Dorcey at 526-6670 or email bryan.s.dorcey. 

civ@mail.mil. 

• Motor pool sludge removal/disposal — 

Call Dennis Frost at 526-6997 or email 

dennis.j.frost.civ@mail.mil. 

• Repair and utility/self-help — Call Gary 

Grant at 526-5844 or email gerald.l.grant2.civ 

@mail.mil. Use this number to obtain self-help 

tools and equipment or a motorized sweeper. 

• Base operations contracting officer 

representative — Call Terry Hagen at 526-9262 

or email terry.j.hagen.civ@mail.mil for questions 

on snow removal, grounds maintenance and 

contractor response to service orders. 

• Portable latrines — Call Jerald Just at 

524-0786 or email jerald.j.just.civ@mail.mil to 

request latrines, for service or to report damaged 

or overturned latrines. 

• Signs — Call Jim Diorio, Fort Carson 

Support Services, at 896-0797 or 524-2924 or 

email jdiorio@kira.com to request a facility, 

parking or regulatory traffic sign. 

The Fort Carson Trial Defense Service office — is 

able to help Soldiers 24/7 and is located at building 

1430, room 233. During duty hours, Soldiers 

should call 526-4563. The 24-hour phone number 

for after hours, holidays and weekends is 526-0051. 

Briefings 

75th Ranger Regiment briefings — are held 

Tuesdays in building 1430, room 150, from 

noon to 1 p.m. Soldiers must be private-sergeant 

first class with a minimum General Technical 

Score of 105; be a U.S. citizen; score 240 or 

higher on the Army Physical Fitness Test; and 

pass a Ranger physical. Call 524-2691 or visit 

http://www.goarmy.com/ranger.html. 

Casualty Notification/Assistance Officer training — 

is held April 16-18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 

Veterans’ Chapel. Class is limited to the first 50 

people. Call 526-5613/5614 for details. 

Retirement briefings — are held from 8 a.m. to 

noon the second and third Wednesday of each 

month at the Freedom Performing Arts Center, 

building 1129 at the corner of Specker Avenue 

and Ellis Street. The Retirement Services Office 

recommends spouses accompany Soldiers to the 

briefing. Call 526-2840 for more information. 

ETS briefings — for enlisted personnel are held 

the first and third Wednesday of each month. 

Briefing sign in begins at 7 a.m. at the Soldier 

Readiness Building, building 1042, room 244, 

on a first-come, first-served basis. Soldiers must 

be within 120 days of their expiration term of 

service, but must attend no later than 30 days 

Breakfast: 7-9 a.m. 

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 


Wolf Closed Breakfast: 6:45-9 a.m. 

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 


Warfighter 

(Wilderness Road 

Complex) 

LaRochelle 

10th SFG(A) 

Closed Breakfast: 7-9 a.m. 

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Dinner: Closed 

Closed Breakfast: 7-9 a.m. 

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Dinner: Closed 

prior to their ETS or start of transition leave. 

Call 526-2240/8458 for more information. 

Disposition Services — Defense Logistics Agency 

Disposition Services Colorado Springs, located in 

building 381, conducts orientations Fridays from 

12:30-3:30 p.m. The orientations discuss DLA 

processes to include turning in excess property, 

reutilizing government property, web-based tools 

available, special handling of property and environmental 

needs. To schedule an orientation, contact 

Arnaldo Borrerorivera at arnaldo.borrerorivera@ 

dla.mil for receiving/turn in; Mike Welsh at 

mike.welsh@dla.mil for reutilization/web tools; or 

Rufus Guillory at rufus.guillory@dla.mil. 

Reassignment briefings — are held Tuesdays in 

building 1129, Freedom Performing Arts Center. 

Sign-in for Soldiers heading overseas is at 7 a.m. 

and the briefing starts at 7:30 a.m. Sign-in for 

personnel being reassigned stateside is at 1 p.m., 

with the briefing starting at 1:30 p.m. Soldiers are 

required to bring Department of the Army Form 

5118, signed by their physician and battalion 

commander, and a pen to complete forms. Call 

526-4730/4583 for more information. 

Army ROTC Green-to-Gold briefings — are held 

the first and third Tuesday of each month at noon 

at the education center, building 1117, room 120. 

Call University of Colorado-Colorado Springs 

Army ROTC at 262-3475 for more information. 

Hours of Operation 

Central Issue Facility 

• In-processing — Monday-Thursday from 

7:30-10:30 a.m. 

• Initial and partial issues — Monday- 

Friday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. 

• Cash sales/report of survey — Monday- 

Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

• Direct exchange and partial turn ins — 

Monday-Friday from 7:30-11:30 a.m. 

• Full turn ins — by appointment only; call 

526-3321. 

• Unit issues and turn ins — require 

approval, call 526-5512/6477. 

Education Center hours of operation — The 

Mountain Post Training and Education Center, 

building 1117, 526-2124, hours are as follows: 

• Counselor Support Center — Monday- 

Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 11 

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

• Army Learning Center — Monday- 

Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

• Defense Activity for Nontraditional 

Education Support and Army Personnel Testing — 

Monday-Friday 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m. 

Repair and Utility self-help — has moved to building 

217 and is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Medical Activity Correspondence Department 

office hours — The Correspondence (Release 

of Infor mation) Office in the Patient 

Administration Division hours are Monday- 

Wednesday and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

and closed Thursday and federal holidays. Call 

526-7322 or 526-7284 for details. 

Work Management Branch — The DPW Work 

Management Branch, responsible for processing 

work orders — Facilities Engineering Work 

Requests, DA Form 4283 — is open for processing 

work orders and other in-person support from 

7-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Afternoon 

customer support is by appointment only, call 

526-2900. The Work Management Branch is 

located in building 1219.

The Fort Carson Auto Craft Center has plenty of space for 

community members to make repairs on their vehicles 

and staff is available to lend assistance and expertise. 

Full service facility for pros, amateurs 

Story and photos by Cpl. William Smith 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office 

High overhead lighting, the smells of oil, hot 

metal and orange pumice hand soap; vehicles on 

lifts, the sounds of wrenches cranking, metal 

grinding and hammers banging greet patrons as 

they enter the Fort Carson Auto Craft center. 

The Auto Craft center is a program run by the 

Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation, where Soldiers, retirees, military Family 

members and Department of Defense civilians 

can work on their vehicles for a fraction of the price 

of other auto shops. 

“Our lift bays are $6 an hour, where as an 

hour worth of labor downtown will run you about 

$100,” said Cliff Dorn, cashier, auto craft center, 

Spc. Nathaniel Snyder, construction equipment repairer, 497th Engineer 

Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, reinstalls a rotor and caliper March 

20 at the Fort Carson Auto Craft center. 

DFMWR. “We’re here to help the troops and people 

who can utilize this facility.” 

The center is ideal for people who want to work 

on their vehicles, from those who are inexperienced 

to those who are seasoned. 

“I have been working around vehicles for most 

of my life,” said Spc. Josh Crawford, 

heavy equipment operator, 615th 

Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer 

Battalion. “My stepfather was a mechanic, 

and I was always underneath the cars 

passing him the tools he needed. 

“I would recommend the auto craft 

center to others, especially first timers, 

who do not know a whole lot about 

their vehicle,” said Crawford. 

The shop is filled with tools and 

knowledgeable staff to 

help people get their 

vehicle problems fixed. 

“Instructors will help 

and advise people on 

something that they don’t 

know how to do.” Dorn 

said. “Technical guidance 

doesn’t cost anything; 

the staff is here to help. 

We have all of the tools 

needed to get the job 

done, and all you have to 

do is check them out.” 

Many of the 

customers who use the center’s 

facility enjoy the environment. 

“It is inside, you have vehicle 

lifts, you have all of the tools you 

need, and you can do anything you 

need to do to your vehicle,” said 

Spc. Nathaniel Snyder, construction 

equipment repairer, 497th Engineer 

Company, 52nd Eng. Bn. 

Crawford added that there is no 

experience like having someplace 

where he can get his hands dirty, 

with the tools and the staff who work 

there helping him and others with 

what they need to get done. 

The staff at the auto craft 

center wants people to know that 

March 29, 2013 — MOUNTAINEER13 

Spc. Josh Crawford, heavy equipment operator, 615th Engineer Company, 

52nd Eng. Battalion, reinstalls the rotor after changing the brake pads 

and shoes March 20 at the Fort Carson Auto Craft center, which is run by 

the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. 

they are available to serve and help. 

“Spouses of deployed Soldiers should come 

see us first for a straight answer about their vehicle 

problems,” Dorn said. “We can help diagnose the 

problems with your vehicle; when we say something 

you can take it to the bank. Dozens and dozens of 

spouses of deployed Soldiers come in here with 

ridiculous estimates. 

“We’re all veterans and we have all been where 

they’re at,” Dorn said. “We appreciate their service 

to us; we try to give back by working here and 

offering them services that saves them some money.” 

The auto craft center is in building 2427 

located off of Wetzel Avenue north of the Outdoor 

Recreation center. For more information on the 

services offered, visit http://www.mwrfortcarson. 

com/auto-craft.php or call 526-2147.


Photo by Spc. Kaila Muggli 

Medical Department Activity Command Sgt. Maj. Ly M. Lac 

rewards McKenzie Costa with a hospital ball cap and backpack 

for coming to the aid of her mother while she was having 

trouble breathing. He praised the 10-year-old for keeping a cool 

head in an emergency and urged the other children at Patriot 

Elementary to follow her example. 

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10-year-old girl 

helps save her mom 

By Stacy Neumann 

Medical Department Activity 

Public Affairs 

Col. John McGrath 

asked the students in Patriot 

Elementary School’s cafeteria 

who they thought is a hero. 

“Iron Man!” “Hawkeye!” 

“Batman!” 

The hospital commander 

smiled and replied, “Well, my 

hero is in here. Can I have 

McKenzie Costa come up here?” 

The surprised 10-year-old 

walked up to the front of the 

room and McGrath began to 

tell the room about what 

happened March 7. 

McKenzie woke up at 

about 5 a.m. after hearing her 

mother call her name once. 

The mother of five was home 

while her husband Sgt. Lewis 

Costa was in the field. 

“She jumped right up. I 

didn’t even say her name loudly 

but, for some reason, McKenzie 

came right down,” recalled her 

mother Crystal Costa. 

McKenzie went downstairs 

and found her mother on the 

floor, gasping for air. She rushed 

to a neighbor and asked her to 

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call 911. Then, McKenzie ran 

back and administered an EpiPen 

and an inhaler to her mom. 

Evans Army Community 

Hospital paramedics Jason 

Sexton and Daniel Curtis 

arrived shortly after. 

“What she did was give us 

a few extra minutes to stabilize 

her mom. It could have ended 

in full cardiac arrest,” said 

Curtis. “It’s not every day you 

see a 10-year-old make a good 

decision like this. Her quick 

decision was instrumental in 

saving her mother’s life.” 

“I feel McKenzie acted 

above and beyond what is 

expected of most people at 

any age. She showed courage 

and quick thinking without 

hesitation. This truly is a 

special trait that only a few 

have,” added Sexton. 

The paramedics rushed 

Costa to the hospital. The 

mother of five had been in 

anaphylactic shock, an allergic 

reaction to an aspirin she had 

taken. She’s doing fine now 

and watched as McKenzie 

was recognized March 20. 

McGrath asked the children 

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emergency and they called out 

the 911 number. Paramedics 

said it’s a lesson parents should 

continually reinforce. 

“It’s important for families 

to train to use 911, be aware of 

medical conditions within the 

family, and practice emergency 

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For her efforts, McGrath 

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her out with a hospital 

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“It’s nice they all showed 

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“It was special.” 

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to help,” she smiled. “But this 

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Women’s history highlights innovators, scientists 



Fort Carson officials observed Women’s History 

Month, Tuesday, during an event recognizing the 

achievements of women in science, technology, 

engineering and mathematics. 

“As recently as the 1970s, women’s history was 

virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum 

or in the general public consciousness,” said 

Sgt. 1st Class Yolanda Strowbridge, event emcee. 

Strowbridge provided the historical context 

for the event, including the first “Women’s History 

Week,” in 1978 and the first presidential 

proclamation designating the week of March 8 

as “Women’s History Week” in 1980. 

“‘I urge libraries, schools, and community 

organizations to focus their observances on the 

leaders who struggle for equality – Susan B. 

Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia 

Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and 

Alice Paul,” Strowbridge said, quoting Dr. Gerda 

Lerner. “‘Understanding the true history of our 

country will help us to comprehend the need for 

full equality under the law for all our people.’” 

Maj. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, commanding 

general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, 

shared his thoughts and encouraged his male 

Soldiers to support the women in their lives. 

“I have three daughters,” he said. “I challenge 

all fathers and husbands in this room — your 

encouragement is required.” 

LaCamera recounted the successes of numerous 

women serving in the military, including Gen. 

Ann E. Dunwoody, the Army’s first four-star general 

who earned the rank in 2008. 

“It’s important to recognize these achievements,” 

LaCamera said. “We must also recognize there are 

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still hurdles to overcome.” 

Capt. Talisha M. Lewis, 

company commander, 615th 

Engineer Company, 52nd 

Engineer Battalion, served 

as the guest speaker, 

recounting her path. 

Prior to earning her 

bachelor’s degree in German 

from the University of 

Georgia, Lewis enlisted in 

the Army and served as an 

administrative specialist. She 

earned her master’s degree in 

geological engineering from 

Missouri University of Science and Technology. 

Lewis said her degree in geological engineering 

set her up for success as an engineer in the Army, 

helping her company complete several construction 

projects around Fort Carson. 

“As an engineer company commander, my 

degrees help me with the planning process on 

certain construction missions,” she said. “It helps 

me to identify terrain that we can or cannot build 

on, what type of equipment is best suitable to 

use for the terrain as well as what type of gravel 

material is best suited to construct on that terrain.” 

Lewis said she’s led an “interesting” path in 

the Army, leading bridge platoons and commanding 

a horizontal engineer unit, whose primary mission 

is to construct and repair roads and airfields. 

Her latest task — constructing the obstacle course 

for the upcoming Spartan Race in May. 

“It’s been really fun, and I continue to anticipate 

all my future tasks,” she said in her closing remarks. 

Sgt. 1st Class Manuel Halter, 10th 

Special Forces Group (Airborne), attended the 

event with his wife and children, including his 

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15 

7- and 9-year-old daughters. 

“We both feel like it’s good for us to learn more 

about other people and what they’ve been through,” 

he said. “With these events, we appreciate where 

we’ve come from. We can see how far we’ve come 

and know that we still have a ways to go.” 

“I think it’s important to educate (my daughters) 

on what women have gone through and explain how 

things used to be,” said Jana Halter, Manuel Halter’s 

wife. “I want to raise well-rounded children, and I 

want them to appreciate how far we’ve come.” 

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Steven O. Green 

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specifically science and math, with his four daughters. 

“I think it’s very important for our females to 

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instilled confidence in his daughters. 

Green also beseeched parents to encourage 

their daughters. 

“It’s important to get involved at an early age,” 

he said. “Parents should support their daughters 

as much as their sons, maybe even more.” 

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Claims to the estate 

Master Sgt. Joseph Bascio — With deepest regret to 

the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims 

against or indebtedness to his estate should contact 

Capt. Donald Fair at 526-3429 or 719-310-5054. 

Sgt. Marc Schoonhoven — With deepest regret 

to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having 

claims against or indebtedness to his estate 

should contact 1st Lt. Victor Cruz at 526-6868. 

Sgt. James Fleming — With deepest regret to 

the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims 

against or indebtedness to his estate should 

contact Capt. Todd Geszvain at 526-1388. 

Upcoming events 

Installation Safety Day — The Garrison Safety 

Office hosts the Installation Safety Day April 16 

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Special Events 

Center. Contact Master Sgt. Edward L. Smith at 

526-2123 or email edward.l.smith93.mil@mail.mil 

for more information. 

Scouting for Food Drive — Cub Scout Pack 264 

and Boy Scout Troop 164 host the 2013 Scouting 

for Food Drive April 20-27 at the commissary. 

Participants may donate bags of food in the 

collection box, which will be collected April 27. 

All donations benefit the Care and Share Food 

Bank for Southern Colorado. Contact Janita 

McGregor at 284-0186 for more information. 

Spouse Master Resilience Trainer — Fort Carson 

is looking for spouses to become certified 

Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness and 

Master Resilience trainers. Applicants must be 

active-duty military spouses with at least 12 

months left at Fort Carson and have good 

communication and public speaking skills. 

Interviews will be held April 16-17 and training 

takes place May 13-23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Applicants must attend all team meetings and 

trainings. Applicants should contact their Soldier’s 

commander for more information on applying. 

General announcements 

Voting Assistance — The Fort Carson Voting 

Assistance Office is located in building 1218, 

room 212, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. 

The 2012-2013 Voting Assistance Guide and 

voting forms are available for all military and 

Family members. Call 526-3963 for assistance. 

Additional information can be found on the 

Federal Voting Assistance Program website at 

http://www.fvap.gov/. 

Donated annual leave for Fort Carson civilian 

employees — is currently being accepted for the 

following civilians under the Voluntary Leave 

Transfer Program. The employees who have 

exhausted all available leave because of medical 

emergencies and are currently accepting leave 

donations are Brad Hanerkratt, Dental Activity; 

Michele Bower, Space and Missile Defense 

Command; Bradley Bills and James Werner, 

Directorate of Emergency Services; Frank Oquendo, 

Directorate of Logistics; Jacqueline Woodward, 

Directorate of Contracting; Teresa Miller, Directorate 

of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. 

Government civilian employees who wish to donate 

annual leave may complete form OPM-630A, 

“Request to Donate Annual Leave.” Nonappropriated 

Fund employees who wish to donate complete form 

OPM-630B “Out of Agency.” Send completed 

forms to Sharon Peterson at sharon.m.peterson. 

civ@mail.mil. Call 526-9341 for more information. 

Triple Threat expands — The Southeast Family 

Center and Armed Services YMCA hosts Triple 

Threat meetings for Family members of military 

personnel dealing with post-traumatic stress 

disorder. Groups meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday 

evenings at the YMCA located at 2190 Jet Wing 

Drive in Colorado Springs. Contact Larry Palma at 

559-376-5389 or longlinelarry@aol.com for details. 

Medications self-care program suspended — Due to 

fiscal constraints, Evans Army Community Hospital 

is suspending the over-the-counter medication 

self-care program. All self-care classes have been 

cancelled pending further information, and training 

information will be removed from the Evans 

Preventive Medicine Web page. Contact Preventive 

Medicine at 526-8201 for more information. 

Free all-day kindergarten — The Fountain-Fort 

Carson School Board approved free all-day 

kindergarten at the February Board of Education 

meeting. Beginning in the 2013-2014 school 

year, parents will no longer have to pay. An 

informational meeting, Kindergarten Roundup, 

will be held at each Fountain-Fort Carson School 

District 8 elementary school on April 9 at 1:30 p.m. 

Visit the District 8 website at http://www.ffc8.org 

or contact your school for more information. 

New post office hours — Retail hours at the 

Fort Carson Post Office change March 30. New 

hours will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. 

Saturday hours remain the same. 

Operation Mentor — Big Brothers Big Sisters 

seeks children ages 9-16 from military Families 

to participate in the military mentoring program, 

which matches children with adult volunteers who 

serve as positive role models. Visit http://www. 

biglittlecolorado.org/ for more information. 

Annual Weingarten notice — In accordance with 

the requirements of 5 USC 7114(a)(3), this is to 

advise bargaining unit employees that: you are 

entitled to union representation in meetings held 

in connection with an investigation if: 1. The 

meeting is conducted by one or more agency 

representatives. 2. The agency representatives are 

conducting an examination in connection with an 

investigation. 3. You are in the bargaining unit. 4. 

You reasonably believe that the examination may 

result in disciplinary action. 5. You request union 

representation. All five conditions must be met. 

Flu shots — Influenza vaccinations are available at 

post clinics and local pharmacies. Soldiers and 

Family members older than 6 months may receive a 

vaccination. Visit http://www.express-scripts.com/ 

TRICARE/pharmacy/ or call 877-363-1303 option 

5 for more information. Visit http://www.evans. 

amedd.army.mil/PM/flu(underscore)information. 

htm or call 526-6422 for appointment information. 

New immunization hours — The Allergy/Adult 

Immunizations Clinic at Evans Army Community 

Hospital has new walk-in immunization hours: 

7:45-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday 

and Friday from 7:45-11:30 a.m. for adult 

immunizations only. Allergy shot scheduling 

remains the same. The clinic will not provide 

vaccinations on training holidays, federal holidays 

and during clinic administration time on Friday 

afternoons. Call 503-7379 for more information. 

Inclement weather procedures for Gate 19 — 

The Directorate of Emergency Services operates 

Gate 19 Monday-Friday from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., 

regardless of inclement weather or road 

conditions along Essayons Road, which is an 

unimproved road. Essayons Road is also used 

to access several ranges and training areas, so 

the road remains open during all conditions. In 

order to notify the motorists of the actual road 

conditions, two “Downrange Road Conditions” 

status signs are now located along Butts and 

Essayons roads showing whether road conditions 

are green, amber or red. One sign is at the 

intersection of Butts Road and Airfield Road, 

facing north, and the other is on Essayons 

Road just inside Gate 19, facing inbound traffic. 

Clinic name changes — Two of the Family medicine 

clinics are in the process of changing names. Iron 

Horse Family Medicine Clinic (located on the 

second floor of Evans Army Community Hospital) 

is changing its name to Warrior Family Medicine 

Clinic. Evans Family Medicine Clinic (located on 

the second floor of the Woods Soldier Family Care 

Clinic) is changing its name to Iron Horse Family 

Medicine Clinic. These are only name changes. 

Beneficiaries will continue to see assigned primary 

care manager/team in their regular clinic location. 

Automated medical referral — A new automated 

reminder system is now in place for medical 

referrals. Beneficiaries who are referred to a 

civilian specialist in the network will receive 

a phone call from the Colorado Springs Military 

Health System. The call will remind patients to 

make an appointment. If a patient has already made 

an appointment, an option will allow him to report 

that information. There is also an option to cancel 

the referral. Unless acted upon, these reminders 

will recur at 20, 60 and 120 days. Call 524-2637 

for more information on the automated call system. 

Thrift shop accepts credit cards — The Fort 

Carson Thrift Shop is now accepting debit and 

credit cards. The shop, located in building 305, 

is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 

2:30 p.m. Contact Gail Olson at 526-5966 

or email thriftshop@gmail.com for more 

information or to learn about volunteer 

opportunities. Donations may be dropped off at 

the store during normal business hours or at the 

recycling center located near the main exchange. 

IMCOM recruits — Installation Management 

Command is recruiting junior and mid-level 

employees to participate in a Develop-mental 

Assignment Program. DAP is designed to support 

functional and leadership training, which is one of 

the essential pillars of the HQ, IMCOM Campaign 

Plan LOE 3. Eligible applicants are IMCOM 

appropriated-fund employees (GS7-GS13) and 

nonappropriated fund employees (NAF-5 and below, 

in positions comparable to GS7-GS13). The DAP 

is based on a systematic plan specializing in developmental 

assignments through various functional 

areas for a period of up to 60 days. The program 

provides multifunctional training and assignments 

to strengthen the experience of employees and 

prepare them for broader responsibilities, improve 

organizational communication, and develop wellrounded 

personnel. Applications can be obtained by 

contacting your organization’s training coordinator 

or the Workforce Development Program. 

EFMP — The Exceptional Family Member 

Program at Evans Army Community Hospital 

has new hours of operation Monday-Thursday 

from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Overseas screenings 

will be conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

The EFMP office is located in the Pfc. Eric P. 

Woods Soldier Family Care Center, Pediatric 

Clinic lobby, Room 2103. Contact the EFMP 

Department at 526-7805 for more information. 

TRICARE online access — TRICARE patients 

will no longer be able to access online accounts 

with MHS/iAS username and password. Users 

must either use a registered Department of 

Defense Common Access Card or register for a 

DOD Self-Service Logon. Visit http://www.dmdc. 

osd.mil/identitymanagement. Patients may 

also receive personal assistance in creating an 

account by visiting the TRICARE Service 

Center at Evans Army Community Hospital or 

Veterans Affairs Regional Office. 

Ambulance service — Fort Carson officials urge community 

members to contact emergency personnel by 

calling 911 instead of driving personal vehicles to 

the emergency room. In the event of a life- or 

limb-threatening emergency, skilled paramedics 

and ambulance crew will be able to administer 

critical care and aid. Contact the Emergency 

Department at 526-7111 for more information.


ASAP raises alcohol awareness 


Spc. Nathan Thome 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs 

Alcohol, if abused, can contribute 

to the destruction of lives, careers 

and relationships for men, women and 

Families, regardless of whether they 

are military or civilian. 

April is Alcohol Awareness 

Month, and throughout the month, 

the Fort Carson Army Substance 

Abuse Program staff will hold events 

to inform the community about the 

dangers of misusing alcohol. 

“Our main goal is to raise the 

awareness, because a lot of negative 

consequences can come from the 

overuse and misuse of alcohol, and we 

don’t want that to happen to anyone,” 

said Susanne Watts, assistant prevention 

coordinator, ASAP. “Alcohol abuse 

and misuse affects a lot of people, 

and it can seriously affect your life if 

you don’t use it responsibly.” 

As part of the campaign, ASAP has 

scheduled an open house Thursday at 

building 6236, from noon to 3 p.m., for 

brigade command teams to learn about 

the program and how they help Soldiers. 

They have also invited a stand-up 

comedian to teach Soldiers about 

alcohol abuse. 

“We have comedian Bernie 

McGrenahan coming to Fort 

Carson’s McMahon (Auditorium) on 

April 18 (at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.),” 

said Watts. “He does a driving under 

the influence safety prevention 

comedy skit and then he moves into 

a personal testimony. 

“The goal of this open house and 

comedian is to get people to start 

thinking about the choices they make 

with alcohol; we want people to start 

seeing that they can have fun, but they 

don’t have to abuse the substance,” 

Watts added. 

ASAP personnel are available 

throughout the year to teach prevention 

and education classes at units, which 

are tailored to a unit’s needs. 

“The alcohol awareness team 

comes down here and conducts 

training with our Soldiers quarterly, 

so they get training throughout the 

year,” said Capt. Xavier Feldman, 

commander, 534th Signal Company, 

43rd Special Troops Battalion, 43rd 

Sustainment Brigade. “They teach the 

Soldiers about the dangers of abusing 

alcohol and how it can affect their 

careers and the lives of themselves 

and the people around them.” 

Feldman said he believes Alcohol 

Awareness Month represents control 

and shows that Soldiers are responsible 

adults. He added it also represents a 

month of caring, because it shows 

that Soldiers care enough to talk to 

each other about their issues. 

“I believe control is a critical skill 

for a Soldier; drinking out of control 

shows lack of skills that a Soldier should 

have,” said Feldman. “It comes back 

to discipline, to self-respect, to caring 

about yourself and those around you. It’s 

a hard month to focus on, because week 

in and week out we say don’t drink 

and drive, don’t get out of control.” 

Feldman teaches his Soldiers 

about the dangers of alcohol abuse 

through a variety of methods. 

“Sometimes we go to the Special 

Events Center and have Soldiers put on 

‘drunk’ goggles to show them what it’s 

like to drive drunk,” said Feldman. 

“What we really try to do is bring it 

home by inviting some of the alcohol 

awareness people from off post to come 

in and share their stories about what 

happened to their loved ones who were 

affected by those who made poor choices 

— some of whom were Soldiers — 

and how it has affected their lives. 

“When Soldiers hear it from 

somebody they don’t know with 

pictures and a story, and they feel 

the emotion of what their choices 

can do to another Family and to 

themselves; I think it has a greater 

impact than when they hear it from 

their leadership,” Feldman added. 

Feldman collects preliminary 

loss reports every week and reads 

them to the Soldiers to help them 

realize that if it can happen to other 

Soldiers, it can happen to them. 

“I don’t know if that makes a 

difference, I don’t know if I’m 

extraordinarily blessed, but I do feel 

my Soldiers have been responsible 

when it comes to drinking,” said 

Feldman. “So far, for the year and 

a half I have been in command, not 

one of my signal Soldiers has had a 

DUI or any alcohol-related incident. 

“I’m not saying that we don’t have 

alcohol problems, because I have had 

Soldiers who have voluntarily come 

to me and say that they may have an 

issue; so we sent them to ASAP for 

the help they needed,” Feldman said. 

“They are Soldiers being responsible, 

going through the program. They 

are adult enough to say they have an 

issue, and then they address it.” 

In addition to telling his Soldiers 

to drink responsibly, Feldman also 

encourages them to seek help if they 

believe they have a drinking problem. 

“To reduce the stigma about going 

to ASAP, we don’t give the Soldiers a 

hard time about receiving help there,” 

added Feldman. “We tell them that it’s 

no different than going to physical 

therapy, because it really isn’t, it’s just 

emotional therapy. What they’re doing 

is going through a method of getting 

over some form of injury.” 

When it comes to drinking, 

Feldman believes his Soldiers know to 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17 

be responsible drinkers and seek help 

when they feel they have a problem. 

“I’m not saying don’t drink, drinking 

is a right, just like anything else; just as 

long as you’re of age, do it responsibly, 

and have someone who can look out for 

you,” Feldman added. “In the end, being 

cognizant of yourself and your limits is 

important. Having the personal courage 

to ask for help and go to ASAP if you 

need to, or just being intelligent on 

how you drink, is the key to being 

responsible when it comes to alcohol.” 

In addition to the Comedy is the 

Cure program at McMahon Theatre and 

ASAP open house, ASAP prevention 

coordinators will facilitate alcohol 

awareness briefings throughout the 

campaign period; Soldiers, Family 

members and civilians can take alcohol 

self-awareness assessments at the Fort 

Carson Army and Air Force Exchange 

Service April 10, from 10 a.m. to 

2 p.m.; and static displays of 

wrecked vehicles will be outside of 

Gate 1 and Gate 20 throughout the 

Alcohol Awareness campaign. 

For more information about ASAP, 

visit http://www.carson.army.mil/ 

dhr/DHR/ASAP/Counseling.html, 

or to schedule an appointment, 

call 526-2862. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The person pictured is not an actual service member.


DPW 

improves 

forest 

health, 

safety 

“This program is a 

very effective tool 

to hold and control 

a wildfire from 

becoming large 

and catastrophic.” 

— Glen Silloway, Fort Carson fire chief 

For more information, call the DPW Environmental 

Division Forestry Section at 526-1692. 

By Dawn Beall and 

Leonard Cook 

Directorate of Public Works 

Environmental Division 

Massive pine beetle outbreaks and 

larger than normal wildland fires are 

all too common and widespread issues 

severely impacting Colorado’s forests 

and altering the mountain landscapes. 

Many factors have contributed to 

the dilemma of declining forest health. 

Decades of a fire suppression policy 

have created overcrowded forests and 

an increase of fire fuel in the forest. 

Natural fires, a significant component 

of the forest’s natural life cycle, have 

been altered to such an extent that 

today’s forests are overstocked and in 

poor health. Shifting climate conditions 

and an ongoing drought have created 

a perfect storm for insect infestation 

and catastrophic fire potential. 

Additional factors, such as the 

lack of a forest industry for using 

wood products and the introduction of 

many homes into the wildland urban 

interface have further exacerbated 

these forest issues. 

Colorado Springs residents 

learned just how close to home the 

potential for a major wildland fire is 

from last year’s Waldo Canyon Fire. 

The fire was the most destructive 

and expensive in Colorado history, 

consuming more than 18,000 acres, 

destroying 346 homes, causing the 

evacuation of 32,000 residents and 

claiming two lives. 

Since the fire, mitigation measures 

have been implemented by property 

owners and city, county, state and federal 

agencies. The thinning and removal 

of trees close to structures and creating 

or improving existing fire barriers 

have been the most effective means 

to control this hazardous situation. 

Fort Carson has been a proactive 

member in the community for years 

with its forest management and 

prescribed fire programs, completing 

many acres of forest thinning 

designed to improve forest health 

and reduce the wildfire threat. 

In 2012, the Directorate of Public 

Works Forestry Section developed a 

Leonard Cook, Directorate of Public of Works Wildland Fire Team member, conducts 

controlled prescribed burn operations to eliminate potential wildland fire fuel. 

plan and carried out additional forest 

thinning along the western boundary 

of Fort Carson along Highway 115. 

“We support the project,” said 

Mike Camp, Fort Caron Directorate 

of Plans, Training, Mobilization and 

Security range operations officer. 

“It is important to keep fires on Fort 

Carson and keep them from moving 

off the installation to the west — it 

also reduces the chance of the fire 

moving from the ground into the 

canopy and moving from tree to tree, 

which is not safe for firefighters.” 

The primary goals of the project, 

funded by the Army and the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture Forest 

Service, were to improve overall 

forest health and reduce the fuel 

load to aid in fire suppression. 

The main forestry management 

objective is to achieve the correct 

forest density that is sustainable with 

existing environmental conditions. 

Starting well before the Waldo 

Canyon Fire, specific areas on Fort 

Carson were identified for treatment, 

based on the high concentration of 

trees, forest health and the presence 

of forest insects and diseases, all of 

which creates intense inter-tree 

competition for growing space, water 

and nutrients. The result is a high 

level of stress among all living trees, 

which increases their susceptibility to 

many other environmental conditions, 

such as insects. 

Of particular concern is the pin 

engraver beetle. This beetle is a small 

insect — smaller than a grain of rice 

— that attacks weakened and stressed 

trees in large numbers, consuming 

and continuing their life cycle by 

feeding and laying eggs in the tree. 

The warming temperatures, below 

normal precipitation for many years 

and higher concentrations of these 

insects are all contributing to 

a visible decline of forests. 

Insect infestation alone has 

decimated vast acreages throughout 

the southwest and is quickly spreading 

on Fort Carson from the south to 

the north. The benefit of select tree 

thinning will be stronger trees that 

can capture more resources and better 

Photo by Danny Gray 

withstand insect infestation. Thinning 

also stimulates understory plant growth 

and improves wildlife habitat. 

Fire management is also 

improved by aggressive thinning in 

several key ways. Accessibility is 

improved for firefighters. Better 

defined fuel breaks provide defensible 

space to prevent spread beyond that 

point. Additionally, the firebreak is 

easier to maintain using smaller and 

more manageable prescribed burns. 

“This program is a very 

effective tool to hold and control a 

wildfire from becoming large and 

catastrophic,” said Glen Silloway, 

Fort Carson fire chief. “In the event 

of an approaching fire, this area 

along the west boundary will provide 

a much safer area for firefighters to 

aggressively contain the spread.” 

Unlike previous thinning projects, 

the slash, tops and small branches of 

removed trees, are being placed in 

piles and then burned. This is critical 

from the fire fuel perspective. The 

lower limbs will be removed on trees 

to limit the possibility of ground fires 

spreading into the canopy of the trees. 

All wood four riverbed inches in 

diameter and larger that is cut is used 

to support the Fort Carson Firewood 

Program, which has benefited many 

active duty and civilian families in 

the community. 

Fort Carson Fire Department 

officials have obtained the necessary 

permits to burn more than 300 

slash piles. 

In February, members of Station 

34 and the DPW Wildland Fire Team 

started prescribed burn operations, 

which will continue into the spring. 

The fire prescription for the operation 

was specific in addressing smoke 

dispersal, exact weather conditions, 

fire behavior and resources on scene. 

The DPW Forestry Section will 

continue to manage the forest by thinning, 

clearing the understory vegetation 

and removing fire fuels. These 

proactive measures will benefit the 

forest by safeguarding valuable natural 

resources, reducing the fire danger 

and contribute to the safety of Fort 

Carson’s neighbors and firefighters.

Active Duty 

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Bring in your military ID and recieve 

an Adult Shampoo & Cut for $10. 

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719-390-0102 (next to Safeway) 

Complimentary Shampoo and 

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ADULT CUT 

$2.00 Off 

KIDS CUT 

$1.00 Off 

Valid at these locations: 

No appointment necessary. Limit one per person per 

coupon. Not valid with any other offer. Good at 

participating salons only. Expires 03/31/2013. 

SHIN SA DONG 

KOREAN RESTAURANT 

Color or Perm 

Mon-Thurs 

$5.00 Off 

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719-633-8414 (Southern Cross) 

$6.99 Bento Box 

Lunch Special! 

Cannot combine offer with any other 

coupon or discount 

Voted Best Korean Restaurant 

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(Gazette & the Independent) 

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Colorado Springs, CO 80909 

638-2695 


EFMP Families may qualify for tax credits 

Commentary courtesy of 

“The Exceptional Advocate” 

Tax season is just around the corner. To get the 

most for your money, it is important to know about 

deductions and benefits you may qualify for and 

where you can go to get answers and assistance 

with filing your taxes. 

Earned Income Tax Credit 

You can elect to include your nontaxable combat 

pay in earned income for the earned income tax 

credit. If you are filing a joint return and both 

you and your spouse received nontaxable combat 

pay, you can each make your own election. But, 

if you (or your spouse) make the election, you 

must include in earned income all 

nontaxable combat pay you received. 

You may not choose to include only 

a part of the nontaxable combat pay 

in earned income. 

You can also receive EITC for a 

child who is permanently and totally 

disabled. Your qualifying child is 

permanently and totally disabled if 

both of the following apply: 

q Your child cannot engage in any 

substantial gainful activity because 

of a physical or mental condition 

q A doctor determines the condition has lasted, 

or can be expected to last, continuously for at 

least a year or can lead to death 

To prove your claim of EITC for a child 

who is permanently and totally disabled, you 

need a letter from the child’s doctor, other 

health care provider or any social service program 

or agency verifying the child is permanently 

and totally disabled. 

Health Coverage Tax Credit 

According to the Internal Revenue Service, when 

figuring your deductions for medical expenses, you 

can generally include medical and dental expenses 

you have paid for yourself, your spouse and your 

dependents. To do so, you must complete and submit 

Form 8885 and all required supporting documents 

with your federal income tax return. Once the IRS 

processes your tax return, the credit will be applied 

to your taxes due, or, if it is more than the taxes 

you owe, it will be issued as a refund. 

The IRS defines medical expenses as “the costs 

of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention 

of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any 

part or function of the body. These expenses include 

payments for legal medical services rendered by 

physicians, surgeons, dentists and other 

medical practitioners. They include the 

costs of equipment, supplies, diagnostic 

devices and transportation needed 

for medical care.” Examples of 

these expenses include: 

q Artificial limbs, contact lenses, 

eyeglasses and hearing aids 

q Difference between the cost of 

obtaining Braille editions over the 

price of regular printed material 

q Special equipment installed in a 

home, or for improvements, if their 

main purpose is medical care for 

you, your spouse or your dependents 

q Costs of buying, training and maintaining a 

guide dog or other service animal to assist 

a visually impaired or hearing disabled person, 

or a person with other physical disabilities 

q Costs of tutoring for learning disabilities caused 

by mental or physical impairment 

q Costs for a school furnishing special education if 

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PEDIATRIC DENTIST 

Dentistry for Children 

A Modern Approach To Dental Care 

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Implants Wisdom Teeth 

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General Dentistry 

ALL OF OUR DENTISTS AND SPECIALISTS 

PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING PPO INSURANCE PLANS 

METLIFE, TRICARE/TRICARE RETIREE, UNITED CONCORDIA, DELTA DENTAL, 

UNITED HEALTHCARE, PRINCIPAL, HUMANA, CIGNA, AETNA, ASSURANT, 

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Veneers Bleaching 

Smile Makeover 

ENDODONTIST 

Root Canals 

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Cleaning, 

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FOUNTAIN, CO 80817 

19 

DID YOU KNOW? 

The Department of Defense offers tax preparation assistance 

through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, an 

installation-based program, and Military OneSource tax 

consultants are available to servicemembers and their 

Family members year-round. The free online tax preparation 

service H&R Block at Home® Basic is also available to 

servicemembers and their Family members. To learn more 

about Military OneSource Tax Services, call 800-342-9647 

or visit Military OneSource online. 

the principal reason for attendance is overcoming 

a learning disability. Special education includes 

teaching Braille, lip reading and remedial 

language training to correct a condition caused 

by a birth defect. 

q Special telephone equipment including 

teletypewriter and telecommunications devices 

q Autoette (three-wheeled motorized chair) 

or a wheelchair used mainly for the relief of 

sickness or disability 

You can deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040) only 

the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is 

more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income 

(Form 1040, line 38). You can find more information 

and examples of how to determine this deduction in 

the IRS publication Medical and Dental Expenses. 

Resources for Assistance 

q IRS Publications. Find IRS Publications online. 

q Military OneSource. Visit Military OneSource 

online for articles on tax planning and 

preparation such as Filing Your Taxes Without 

the Headache and to find information on 

assistance available on military installations. 

q MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. Use the 

MilitaryINSTALLATIONS application to 

locate your Family Center Office.


Engineers from 3rd Platoon, 

576th Engineer Company, 4th 

Engineer Battalion, perform a 

dismounted patrol March 14 

during a six-day training 

event near Camp Red Devil. 

A Talon robot operated by 

engineers with 2nd Platoon, 

576th Engineer Company, 4th 

Engineer Battalion, inspects 

ordnance as engineers keep 

a safe distance. From March 

12-17, engineers performed 

mounted and dismounted 

route-clearance patrols near 

Camp Red Devil, gathering 

intelligence and preparing for 

an upcoming rotation at the 

Joint Readiness Training Center 

at Fort Polk, La., and future 

deployment to Afghanistan. 

Photo by Capt. Donald Schmidt 

Photo by Andrea Sutherland 



In the dried riverbed near Camp Red Devil, a convoy 

of Humvees, mine detection systems and recovery vehicles 

made its way into the narrow channel. Slowly and methodically, 

the vehicles crept forward. 

“Route clearance is tedious,” said Capt. Donald Schmidt, 

observing the convoy made up of Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, 

576th Engineer Company, 4th Engineer Battalion. “You have to 

go slow. That’s why a 20-mile mission can take 10 hours.” 

Schmidt, the company commander for the 576th Eng., jotted 

notes as his Soldiers inched by. 

From March 12-17, three line platoons from the 576th Eng. 

completed mounted and dismounted route-clearance missions 

and collected intelligence as part of an evolutionary training 

concept dubbed “assured mobility.” 

Every few hundred feet, the lead vehicle — a Husky Vehicle 

Mounted Mine Detection 

System — paused, 

examining the area for 

possible improvised 

explosive devices. 

After detecting an 

unknown ordnance, the 

Husky backed away as 

the platoon’s Buffalo Mine 

Protected Clearance Vehicle 

came forward. Within the 

confines of the 50,000-pound 

vehicle, a Soldier manipulated 

the hydraulic “arm,” 

interrogating the suspected 

explosive. Blasting air to 

remove excess dirt and 

sand, the Buffalo revealed 

the ordnance. 

Falling back into a 

protected position, the 

Buffalo reversed as Soldiers 

prepared the Talon robot. 

“Deploying the robot 

to examine the ordnance 

keeps a Soldier from 

having to do it,” Schmidt 

said, scribbling more notes 

on his evaluation forms. 

“Whatever we can do to 

keep Soldiers safe, we do it.” 

Hundreds of feet from the 

ordnance, Soldiers watched 

and guided the robot from 

the safety of their vehicles. 

With its robotic arm and mounted camera, the Talon revealed the 

ordnance was just a shell, not connected to any wiring and 

not posing an immediate threat. 

After retrieving the Talon and “calling in” a request to 

detonate the ordnance, the convoy moved forward. 

“This (training) helps with focus and attention span because 

(route clearance) can be so boring,” Schmidt said. “If they can 

do this and not get complacent, then the training is working.” 

In the exercise, Soldiers continued down the riverbed, 

eventually coming to a choke point that forced Soldiers out of 

their vehicles and into the more vulnerable, dismounted patrol. 

“In this training, we’re looking for how Soldiers find IEDs and 

how they take care of them,” Schmidt said. “In the culminating 

event, they’ll get hit with casualties, and we’ll be looking to see 

how they react and recover.” 


Assured mobility 

Engineers clear 

routes, gather intel 

Photo by Andrea Sutherland 

Soldiers operating the Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle blast 

air to uncover a potential improvised explosive device March 15 near 

Camp Red Devil. 

Soldiers performed their missions both in vehicles and on foot, 

using TALON robots and hand-held mine-detection devices such 

as the DSP-27 Goldie, the VMR-2 Minehound and VMC-1 Gizmo. 

“Their mission is route clearance, but we have a heavy focus 

on intelligence gathering,” Schmidt said. 

After every patrol, platoon leaders briefed company 

intelligence support teams on their mission, including where 

IEDs were spotted, what materials may have been used and 

other crucial details. 

“Based on that information, the COIST analyzes and briefs 

the platoons for their next missions,” Schmidt said. “We’re 

preparing ourselves to be self-sustaining.” 

“With an internal COIST, there’s a higher trust level,” said 

1st Sgt. Dana Tanner. “We’re learning how the enemy is changing 

tactics and how to adapt.” 

Tanner and Schmidt said the goal of the training was to 

provide as realistic conditions as possible in preparation for the 

company’s rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at 

Fort Polk, La., in May and 

a future deployment to 

Afghanistan in the summer. 

“We’ve pushed 

everything at them,” Tanner 

said. “We’re pushing casualty 

evacuations heavily — 

getting them to understand 

the ‘fatal hour’ and making 

it so it’s clockwork. We’re 

pushing them so the 

recovery takes 30 minutes 

versus three hours.” 

For Tanner and Schmidt, 

achieving that high level 

of performance comes 

with repetition. And 

more repetition. 

“Everyone has to know 

what to do,” said Schmidt. 

“We go through heavy 

rehearsals before every 

mission. We do mission 

briefs 30 minutes prior to 

rolling out. If three of the 

four guys are down, that 

fourth guy has to know 

how to take charge.” 

To help ensure the 

training was as realistic as 

possible, the company 

enlisted the help from 

officials with the 

Counter-Improvised 

Explosive Device Integration 

Cell at Fort Carson who helped write and set up training lanes 

and educate new engineers using mine-detection devices. 

“(The training is) a little more intense than an actual 

deployment, but that’s not a bad thing,” said Spc. Michael 

Figueroa, 3rd Platoon, 576th Eng. “Intense training leads to 

a smooth deployment.” 

1st Lt. Cody Tebbitt, platoon leader for 3rd Platoon, said 

despite the long hours spent on the mission, in briefs, maintaining 

vehicles and performing rehearsals, his Soldiers are learning 

valuable lessons. 

“This training is helping us think and refine battle drills,” he 

said. “The first night we were out for more than 10 hours. We’re 

operating on two hours of sleep most days and we have done lots 

of planning and executing. (The realistic training) forces us to think 

outside the box and realize that (these scenarios) can happen.” 

Layout by Jeanne Mazerall

22 MOUNTAINEER — March 29, 2013

23 


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24 

MOUNTAINEER — March 29, 2013 

Health wise 

Emergency, urgent or primary care 

When to use each service 

Commentary by Rebecca Short 

and Caron Wilbur 

Registered nurses, Evans Army 

Community Hospital 

At some time in our lives we have 

all been there. It’s late at night or a 

weekend and a Family member is 

sick. There are choices to consider: 

go to the emergency room or wait to 

see a primary care provider? Which 

one provides the most appropriate 

care for the situation? 

In February, 631 Soldiers, retirees 

and Family members went 

to emergency departments 

in the area. Of those, 

only 45 were admitted 

with serious injury or 

illness. The majority 

were simply seeking 

nonemergency 

medical care. 

During the past 

year, enrollees to 

Evans Army 

Community Hospital have 

made almost 52,000 trips to 

off-post community emergency rooms 

at a cost of more than $3.8 million. 

More than half of those visits were for 

non-emergent care. Not only is that 

money that could have been used to 

offer additional health care services at 

Evans, it also means each of those 

people didn’t get to see a provider 

familiar with his medical history. 

Primary care 

As a beneficiary enrolled to a 

military treatment facility, the primary 

place to receive health care is the 

Family Medicine Clinic with your 

assigned primary care manager. 

Operating on the Patient-Centered 

Medical Home model, our system 

of making appointments and seeing 

your primary care provider 

has never been faster or 

more efficient than it 

is today. You need 

only call 526-CARE 

(2273), provide basic 

information and 

receive the next 

available appointment. 

There are several 

advantages to seeing 

your primary care 

provider. In addition to 

getting quality medical care, 

your provider knows your history 

and conditions. Care is documented 

in your medical record, which is 

important when you move to other 

locations, as you separate from the 

Army or for evaluation of Veterans 

Affairs benefits when you retire. 

Finally, the provider focuses on 

long-term health, is able to assess 

and treat current symptoms and 

monitors chronic conditions to help 

you live a full life. 

Urgent care 

EACH clinics now offer 

extended hours and nurses are 

available to answer questions in 

the event of an urgent, non-lifethreatening 

medical problem. A 

provider is on call and available 

24/7 for advice through the Access 

to Care Line at 526-2273. 

Heading to a non-military 

emergency room or urgent care 

center before getting an authorization 

could result in point-of-service charges. 

That means beneficiaries may have 

to pay up to 50-percent of the bill. 

Emergency care 

Emergency care is for sudden, 

unexpected medical conditions that, 

in the judgment of a clear-thinking 

adult with an average knowledge of 

health, would endanger or seriously 

harm a person’s life or health if not 

treated immediately by a licensed 

medical professional. An emergency 

is an immediate threat to loss of life, 

limb or eyesight. 

In a life-threatening emergency, 

call 911 or go to the nearest 

emergency care facility. Beneficiaries 

may go to any hospital in your area 

for emergency care. 

Remember that all patients 

arriving at the emergency room are 

triaged. This is a constant assessment 

to determine who needs immediate 

care and who can wait. If a Family 

member does not have a real emergency, 

you can spend hours waiting, 

watching an almost endless parade 

of others receive care before you. 

The emergency room staff has 

highly-skilled and dedicated people, 

but they are trained to save lives and 

limbs, and to stabilize their patients. 

It’s important to understand that they 

are not long-term care providers and 

don’t have the bigger picture and 

history of an individual’s health care. 

It’s important to evaluate your 

condition and make the most appropriate 

choice. Knowing and understanding 

the differences between a real medical 

emergency and just being sick has 

consequences. Help us improve the 

quality of your long-term care by 

seeing your primary provider. We 

want to foster a lifetime of wellness.

Memorial Chapel. Free child care is available. 

Email carson@pwoc.org or visit PWOC 

Fort Carson on Facebook for details. 

Latter Day Saints Soldiers: Weekly Institute 

Class (Bible study) is Wednesday at 

7 p.m. at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. Call 

719-266-0283 or 719-649-1671 for 

more information. 

Heartbeat, a support group for battle 

buddies, Family members and friends 

who are suicide survivors, meets the second 

Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m. 


Easter a chance for new you 

Commentary by Chap. (Maj.) Sun Macupa 

Senior chaplain, 10th Combat Support Hospital 

There are a 101 stories where people transform 

themselves into what is termed the “new you.” 

Television infomercials and commercials fill the 

airwaves about how losing those excessive pounds, 

adding magical ingredients to your hair or face 

or getting that new vehicle with accompanying 

four-wheel drive and rear heated seats with 

surround sound elicits a new you. 

However, in a day, week or perhaps a year, that 

supposed new you resorts to mediocrity, as hopes 

and aspirations are dulled. We find ourselves 

groping to be appeased by something newer, but 

it isn’t coming down the road anytime soon. 

There is one venue that goes beyond fringe 

offerings to be something truly new — a 

transformation that is exciting and forever fulfilling. 

It focuses on a promised deliverer, a redeemer, 

who we call a “Messiah,” the one who is called 

Jesus. It is in this week, known as Holy Week, 

that Jesus went through unfathomable trials and 

endeavors which would transform our dormant 

existence from one of darkness to one that is 

opened to a new life and a new joy of celebration. 

This promise of a “new day” had many twists 

and turns some 2,000 years ago. The Son of God 

entered the city of Jerusalem where he was to be 

betrayed and crucified. At a placed called Golgotha 

he carried all of the sins of humanity to the cross. It 

is here that the light of eternal hope was formed, 

wherein the new you could be offered safe passage 

into the embrace of the eternal and loving God. 

Chapel briefs 

Facebook: Search “Fort Carson Chaplains 

(Religious Support Office)” for the latest 

events and schedules. 

“How we Love our Kids: The Five Love Styles 

of Parenting Seminar” — will be held 

April 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Soldiers’ 

Memorial Chapel. Based on the work of Milan 

and Kay Yerkovich, the seminar helps parents 

identify which of the five love styles they have; 

discover dynamics that shape their parenting; 

eliminate “buttons” so their children can’t 

push them; create close connections with 

children that last a lifetime; and learn the 

seven gifts every child needs. The event will 

be led by Ken Robinson and Justin Cole, 

Soldier and Family Readiness Program, 

Army Community Service. Limited child 

care will be available and participants 

are asked to bring a snack to share. Call 

Pat Treacy at 524-2458 or email 

patricia.a.treacy2.civ@mail.mil by April 5 

to register. 

Club Beyond, an outreach ministry for 

“non-church” children is held at Carson 

Middle School and Fountain-Fort Carson 

High School. Call 719-355-9594 for 

dates and times. 

Youth Ministries: Christian Youth Group for 

sixth- through 12th-graders meets Sunday 

from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Soldiers’ Memorial 

Chapel. Call 526-5744 for more information. 

Military Council of Catholic Women meets 

Friday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Soldiers’ 

Memorial Chapel. For information call 

526-5769 or visit “Fort Carson Military 

Council of Catholic Women” on 

Facebook. 

Knights of Columbus, a 

Catholic group for men 

18 and older, meets the 

second and fourth Tuesday 

of the month at Soldiers’ 

Memorial Chapel. Call 

526-5769 for more 

information. 

Protestant Women of the 

Chapel meets Tuesday from 

9:30 a.m. to noon at Soldiers’ 

All those that 

supported him earlier in 

the week, either accused 

or abandoned him. Even 

his disciples ran away at 

the sight of the Soldiers 

and priests coming upon 

Jesus. Beatings beyond 

measure were 

secondary to 

him when 

compared to the 

task of taking 

on the sins 

of the world. 

Finally, when 

his physical 

body was nailed 

to a cross and 

he could take 

no more, Christ 

cried out “‘It is 

finished.’ And bowing 

his head, he gave up his 

spirit.” (John 19:30) 

“‘It is finished.’ 

And bowing 

his head, he 

gave up his 

spirit.” — John 19:30 

Many verses from the Bible epitomize what 

was done when Jesus went to his death on that 

Good Friday. Paul’s letter to the Romans said “while 

we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” John 

the disciple says “For God so loved the world that he 

gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in 

him should not perish but have everlasting life.” In a 

word, it is transformation — the opportunity to be new. 

In sorting out the verses in John’s gospel, we see 

Chapel Schedule 

ROMAN CATHOLIC 

Day Time Service Chapel Location Contact Person 

Saturday 4-45 p.m. Reconciliation Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Manuel/526-8583 

Saturday 5 p.m. Mass Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Manuel/526-8583 

Sunday 8:15-8:45 a.m. Reconciliation Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Manuel/526-8583 

Sunday 9 a.m. Mass Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Manuel/526-8583 

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Religious education Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Pat Treacy/524-2458 

Sunday 10:30 a.m. RCIA Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Pat Treacy/524-2458 

Mon-Fri 11:45 a.m. Mass Healer Nelson & Martinez Chap. Manuel/526-8583 

Mon-Thurs noon Mass Healer Evans Army Hospital Fr. Nwatawali/526-7347 

PROTESTANT 

Friday 4:30 p.m. Intercessory prayer, Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Stuart/524-4316 

Bible Study 

Sunday 9 a.m. Protestant Healer Evans Army Hospital Chap. Gee/526-7386 

Sunday 9:15 a.m. Sunday School Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Heidi McAllister/526-5744 

Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday School Prussman Barkeley & Prussman Heidi McAllister/526-5744 

Sunday 10 a.m. Orthodox Service Provider Barkeley & Ellis Chap. Oanca/503-4570 

Sunday 11 a.m. Protestant Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Stuart/524-4316 

Sunday 11 a.m. Gospel Prussman Barkeley & Prussman Ursula Pittman/503-1104 

Sunday 10 a.m. Chapel NeXt Veterans Magrath & Titus Chap. Palmer/526-3888 

Sunday 2:30-4:30p.m. Youth ministry Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Heidi McAllister/526-5744 

Tuesday 9:30 a.m. PWOC Soldiers’ Nelson & Martinez Chap. Stuart/524-4316 

JEWISH 

Fort Carson does not offer Jewish services on post. Contact Chap. (Lt. Col.) Fields at 503-4090/4099 for Jewish service and study information 

ISLAMIC SERVICES 

Fort Carson does not offer Islamic services on post. Contact the Islamic Society at 2125 N. Chestnut, 632-3364 for information. 

(FORT CARSON OPEN CIRCLE) WICCA 

Sunday 1 p.m. Provider Chapel, Building 1350, Barkeley and Ellis ftcarsonopencircle@gmail.com 

COLORADO WARRIORS SWEAT LODGE 

Meets once or twice monthly and upon special request. Contact Michael Hackwith or Wendy Chunn-Hackwith at 285-5240 for information. 

25 

the transformation of the new you when a risen Jesus, 

who died and then rose, came upon Mary Magdalene 

outside the tomb where he was laid, called out to her 

and told her that “I am ascending to my father and 

your father, and to my God and your God.” 

You have become new as the bonds of sin and 

death are broken. A valid transformation has 

occurred, the new you has been transformed. May 

God be with you and bless you. Happy Easter. 

at the Fallen Heroes Family Center, building 

6215, 6990 Mekong St. The group is open to 

members of all branches of service. Contact 

Richard Stites at 719-598-6576 or Cheryl 

Sims at 719-304-9815 for more information. 

Spanish Bible Study meets off post. Contact 

Staff Sgt. Jose Varga at 719-287-2016 for 

study times and location. 

Jewish Lunch and Learn with Chap. (Lt. Col.) 

Howard Fields takes place Wednesday from 

noon to 1 p.m. at Provider Chapel. For more 

information, call 526-8263.


Stormwater a critical resource 

By Janine Hegeman 

Stormwater Program, Directorate of Public Works 

Clean water is essential to human survival and a 

precious resource, especially in times of drought. 

Many residents and visitors to Fort Carson may not 

know a part of that resource is the water going into 

the storm drains in the streets and parking lots. 

Storm drains are connected, in an intricate pattern 

of pipes and culverts, directly to the waterways that 

cross Fort Carson. Under streets, parking lots, homes 

and buildings, thousands of gallons of water flow 

during a rainstorm or snowmelt straight into the 

ditches and streams. This water is not treated at the 

wastewater treatment plant first; anything in its path 

is washed along and into the nearest body of water. 

In turn, contamination of the water often 

occurs and the cost of bringing the water back 

to a usable condition increases for neighboring 

towns and cities downstream. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

oversees storm water on Fort Carson, as the flowing 

ditches and streams here are considered “Waters 

of the U.S.” — they belong to all American citizens. 

There are specific guidelines as to what may 

and may not actually go into the storm drains in 

order to keep the water as clean as possible. 

Only storm water is allowed in the drains; 

however, there are some lawful exceptions, such 

as water from lawn watering and runoff from 

firefighting activities. All other contaminants, 

petroleum products, cleaning liquids, chemicals, 

trash and dirt are not, by law, expected to be 

released into the storm-drain system. 

The burden these pollutants place on the overall 

storm water system and on water resources is heavy. 

Trash and dirt clog the pipes and drains, causing 

flooding. Petroleum and chemicals are extremely 

harmful to the environment, as well as expensive 

and difficult to remove from both soil and water. 

Very small amounts of pollutants cause tremendous 

damage to water resources. 

One gallon of motor oil will contaminate a 

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million gallons of water. It takes years to clean this 

type of contamination out of the environment. 

One drop of trichloroethylene, a solvent, will 

contaminate about 75,000 gallons of water — the 

size of an Olympic swimming pool. According to 

Everyone plays a role 

There are a number of ways people can help keep 

stormwater clean: 

Ø Use the carwash. Commercial carwashes 

typically de-contaminate and recycle the 

water used at the facility. 

Ø Avoid overwatering lawns. Pesticides and 

herbicides on the lawn can be washed away. 

Ø Don’t rinse off driveways and sidewalks; 

sweep instead. 

Ø If a spill of hazardous liquid material such as 

oil or other fluids used in vehicles occurs, apply 

cat litter to the spill; let it absorb and then 

dispose of it properly. 

Ø Use chemical de-icers according to package 

direction; don’t over-apply. 

Ø Sign up to stencil or place decals on stormdrains. 

This makes a great neighborhood or Scout 

project. For more information about stenciling 

stormdrains, call 524-4925. 

Visit the Fort Carson Stormwater Program 

website for more information and other ideas at 

http://www.carson.army.mil/DPW/environmental/ 

stormwater/index.html. With good choices and 

simple precautions, the stormwater rolling down 

Fort Carson’s streets will be cleaner. Remember: 

“Only rain down the drain.” 

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the EPA, people exposed to this contaminant in 

drinking water for long periods of time may be at 

increased risk for liver problems and cancer. 

The EPA can bring action against Fort 

Carson for failure to ensure good water quality 

by keeping the storm water system clean. As a 

result, Fort Carson enforces these regulations to 

ensure compliance. 

In November 2012, a community member was 

apprehended while in the act of rinsing transmission 

fluid off pavement into a storm drain, a class 4 

felony. The charge was reduced because there was 

no ill intent. An estimated three to six gallons of 

transmission fluid were released onto the ground 

and some of it made it into the storm drain, resulting 

in the hazardous material spill control staff needing 

to clean up the contamination, which was costly. 

Not only is water quality critical, but the 

quantity of available clean water in the region is 

of tremendous importance. The Fort Carson area 

typically receives about 15 inches of precipitation 

annually. The average over the past five years, 

however, is a little more than 10 inches per 

year, based on the U.S. Geological Service, 

said Rick Clawges, Directorate of Public Works 

Environmental division wildlife biologist consultant. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service 

reports that the year-to-date precipitation percentage 

of average for the Arkansas River Basin, where 

Fort Carson is located, is 61 percent — the lowest 

of all the major river basins in the state. 

Colorado Springs Utilities, which supplies 

Fort Carson’s drinking water, is instituting watering 

restrictions for all of its customers and higher 

rates for those who use in excess of their allowable 

amount of water, with the possibility of more 

severe restrictions. The area is headed for another 

season of drought, affecting not just drinking water 

supplies, but also farming, boating and fishing. 

Clean water is in short supply, and even water 

that appears to be wastewater going down the 

storm drain on the street will eventually be used by 

others. Never dump anything down a storm drain.


Soldier teaches art of discipline 

Story and photo 

by Walt Johnson 


Chad Dowdle 

wanted to give back 

to his military 

community in a 

positive way, so, in 

November, he 

decided to help 

people develop a 

new discipline and 

learn self-defense. 

Dowdle began 

teaching karate at 

Waller Physical 

Fitness Center 

because he said it 

was an opportunity 

to give back to the 

Army and help people 

fully understand the 

sport and discipline 

of karate. 

“Karate is actually 

good in diffusing 

situations as opposed 

to trying to hurt 

someone. When it comes down to it, you don’t want 

to fight, because we are learning things you really 

don’t want to use against someone. I was a bouncer 

before I came into the military, and they hired me 

because they knew I knew karate. Fortunately, I 

never had to use it. What you really want to do is 

look in someone’s eyes and see if you can talk 

them out of a situation,” Dowdle said. 

Dowdle said learning the discipline of karate 

teaches people more than just the art of self-defense. 

People are also able to apply it to their everyday 

life because of the discipline that is needed to learn 

and understand it, he said. 

Alejandra Rodriguez, one of Dowdle’s students 

and a parent with two children in class, echoed 

Dowdle’s feelings. 

“I wanted to get involved with the discipline of 

karate, because it is something I could share with my 

kids. I also wanted us to get involved with something 

that motivates each of us to help us get better at all 

Mountaineer Sports Feature 

phases of life. It helps 

a lot when we have 

something that we 

can share as a family. 

The discipline I have 

learned from karate 

has been valuable to 

us. It has given us 

a good structure 

(and) gives us a good 

way to learn time 

management skills, 

among other things,” 

Rodriguez said. 

Dowdle said one 

of the keys to being 

successful in karate 

is understanding 

the ABCD concept. 

He said people 

who master it usually 

find a lot of success 

and gratification 

from the sport. 

“(There are) 

all kinds of different 

karate school 

mentalities, and 

mine is relaxed. You 

have to have discipline in order to learn all aspects 

of the sport, which we call the ABCDs. That 

consists of the right attitude, learning the basics, 

gaining confidence and developing discipline. If 

you have the right attitude to learn, that leads to 

a better understanding of the basics. From the 

basics you develop more confidence, and when 

you have confidence you develop more discipline. 

It is a never ending circle of learning that karate 

can do for you,” Dowdle said. 

Chad Dowdle, center, leads a recent karate discipline exercise at Waller Physical Fitness Center. Dowdle teaches a karate 

class two times a week at the facility. 

Photo by Walt Johnson 

Fred Taijeron, right, 

returns a serve to 

his opponent, Martin 

Newcomb, during the 

championship game 

of the 2013 Fort 

Carson table tennis 

championships March 

21 at Iron Horse 

Sports and Fitness 

Center. Taijeron won 

six contests to capture 

the championship. 

After the event 

Taijeron said he was 

very grateful that the 

Directorate of Family 

and Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation sports 

staff came up with 

the tournament to 

give table tennis fans 

like himself a platform 

to display their talents. 

“Its difficult to find 

people who play 

table tennis, and to 

see all the excellent 

players that played 

in this tournament 

was a great thing,” 

Taijeron said.


High riser 


Medical Department Activity’s Lynorse Garrett, 8, 

shoots a rebound Tuesday at Iron Horse Sports and 

Fitness Center. The post intramural playoffs were 

scheduled to end Thursday with the championship 

contest. The teams playing in the championship 

had not been determined at press time. 

Fountain-Fort 

Carson’s Al Davis, is 

fouled as he drives 

between Lewis 

Palmer High School’s 

Jordan Scott, left, 

and Sand Creek’s 

Bryan Jenkins, right, 

March 21 at Doherty 

High School. The 5A 

all-stars won a 

thrilling 107-105 

contest in the last 

high school game 

of the season 

for players in 

Southern Colorado. 

Sandwiched 

BENCH 

On the 

DFMWR hosts the second Spartan Military 

Sprint in May. 

The May 4-5 competition will consist of a 

four-mile obstacle course built and designed by 

Fort Carson’s Special Forces units and combat 

engineers, according to Sprint officials. The 

competition is open to anyone 14 years and 

older. Visit http://www.spartanrace.com to 

register for the event. 

The Fort Carson Women's Golf Association hosts its 

annual season opening coffee Tuesday at 9 a.m. 

The event, held at the Cheyenne Shadows 

Golf Club, serves as the official kickoff event for 

the 2013 golfing season, according to association 

officials. Weather permitting, nine holes of golf 

will follow the coffee. Women golfers, both 

military and civilian, interested in joining the 

league are encouraged to attend the coffee and 

get more information about the club. 

Civilians attending the event should enter the 

post through Gate 1 off Highway 115. A valid 

driver’s license and current proof of auto insurance 

and registration are required to access the post. 

Contact Judy Jacoby at 719-685-1901 or email 

judyjacoby@comcast.net for more information. 

A Commanding General’s Golf Scramble is 

scheduled Thursday at the Cheyenne 

Shadows Golf Club. 

The event begins with a shotgun start at 

12:30 p.m. Call 526-4102 to register. The golf 

course is scheduled to hold a CG golf scramble the 

first Friday of each month from April to September, 

except July’s event, which will be held July 3. 

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox open 

their season Thursday at Security Service 

Field in Colorado Springs. 

The Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate 

begins its season by hosting the Reno Aces, a 

farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks, 

Thursday through April 7. The Sky Sox host 

the Tucson Padres, the San Diego Padres 

affiliate, April 8-11. Fort Carson Appreciation 

Night is scheduled for May 11 when the 

Sky Sox host the Omaha Storm Chasers, 

the Kansas City Royals triple-A affiliate. 

The Directorate of Family and Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation coed volleyball 

league begins play in April. 

The league is free and open to all 

Department of Defense identification 

cardholders. There will be a coaches meeting 

Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Iron Horse Sports and 

Fitness Center. Registration information and 

rules are available at http://mwrfortcarson. 

com/intramuralsports.php. For more information, 

call 526-3972. 

The Colorado Rockies are offering military 

members special ticket buys this season. 

The first opportunity is when the Rockies 

take on the San Diego Padres April 6 at 6:10 

p.m. and April 7 at 2:10 p.m. Military personnel 

can purchase tickets in the outfield box, pavilion 

and upper reserved infield/outfield area for 

their Family and friends for $14 each (with a 

$3.50 service charge per order), a discount 

from the usual range of $21-$39. 

The Rockies will also offer military 

discounts for the series with the New York 

Mets, April 15-18; Arizona Diamondbacks, 

April 19-21; and Atlanta Braves, April 22-24. 

Call the Rockies at 303-ROCKIES, ask for 

the military discount and provide reference number 

21231001 to take advantage of the offer. This 

offer is not available on a walk-up basis. Seating 

areas are subject to availability, limits may apply 

and all areas are not available for each game. 

The Fort Carson Sergeants Major Association 

will present its second annual fundraising 

golf tournament in June. 

The event will be held at Cheyenne Shadows 

Golf Club on post and is designed to help the 

association provide backpacks and school supplies 

for installation students, holiday food baskets and 

scholarships for military Families, and to support 

noncommissioned officer and soldier of the year 

programs. The four-person scramble includes 

18 holes of golf, lunch, a cart, range balls, and 

a complimentary future round of golf. The 

registration deadline is June 5 and the tournament 

is limited to the first 144 players. People can 

register at SGMACO@yahoo.com. 

— Compiled byh Walt Johnson 

Photo by Walt Johnson

Mountaineer Athlete of the Week 

Debbie Roubal DDS, P.C. 

Working directly with the military 

community has been one of the 

most rewarding experiences in 

my 20 year dental career. 

 

 

 

 

(719) 636-1933 

830 Tenderfoot Hill Road, Suite #250 

www.springsteeth.com 



Jevon Tinker 

Intramural basketball player 

Focus Fo ocus on 

o 

NOW NOOW to toEnjoy Enjoy 

29 

What got you started playing sports? 

I started playing sports when I was about 7 years old in upward bound youth 

leagues. When I was young, I played three sports: basketball, baseball and 

bowling. But all the time, basketball is the one that interested me the most. 

What is your most memorable experience playing sports? 

In high school we went to the regional championship in my junior 

year in Florida. It was such a different environment than I have ever 

been in before. The atmosphere was highly intense and the environment 

had such an electric feeling to it. 

What would you consider your best professional experiences? 

That would be anything involving Lebron James. I think he is an 

outstanding player. It was always good to watch him when he was in 

Cleveland and he has been so classy since he’s come to Miami. 

What is the one thing you have not done in sports that you would 

still like to do? 

My goal has always been to work as hard as I can while playing sports 

and reach my fullest potential. I work hard when I play sports now, but I still 

don’t think I am working as hard as I can. When I work hard consistently 

it will be the one thing I have not accomplished to this point. 

If you could meet any athlete living or dead who would it be? 

Jackie Robinson would be the person I would like to talk to, because he was 

such a tough-minded person. For him to go through all the adversity he went 

through and become the first black man to play major league baseball and still 

be a great player is amazing to me. I can't imagine how difficult it was and 

still he was able to perform and be one of the best players in the world. 

People who don’t know me would be surprised to know ... I am a 

good bowler. I can usually average around 210 to 221 a game when I bowl. 

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GET Out 

The Royal Gorge Bridge hosts its annual free 

Easter Sunrise Service Sunday at 6:30 a.m. on 

the South Rim of the Royal Gorge. The main gate 

and south gate to the park open at 5:30 a.m. There 

will be seating for 300 people in the picnic area 

that overlooks the gorge. Guests may bring lawn 

chairs if they wish. Mike Bandera, general manager 

of the park, recommends that guests dress warmly 

and bring blankets. Complimentary coffee and 

hot cocoa will be served before the service. 

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum has a 

special exhibit “To the Moon: Snoopy Soars 

with NASA” that runs through April 20. The 

exhibit examines the Apollo 10 mission and 

the role of Peanuts characters in that flight. 

The museum is free. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Tuesday-Saturday and is at 215 S. Tejon St. 

Call 685-5990 for information. 

“Legally Blonde the Musical,” a Fort Carson 

Community Theatre closes its production 

in the Freedom Performing Arts Center 

Saturday-Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 

with military identification and $7 for general 

admission at Information, Tickets and 

Registration office, and at the door for $3 more. 

The Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade, has 

these performances scheduled: 

• Bill Cosby is on stage April 16 at 8 p.m. 

• “The Ugly Duckling,” an Imagination 

Celebration presentation is in the theater 

April 29 at 7 p.m. Children are encouraged to 

wear their pajamas or favorite character attire. 

Preshow activities are in the lobby and milk 

and cookies are available after the performance. 

Call 520-SHOW or 576-2626 for tickets. 

“Free Scout Day” is April 6 at the Rocky 

Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, 201 S. 

Fairview in Woodland Park. All Scouts and 

Scout leaders in uniform will be admitted free. 

Nature’s Educators will give presentations at 

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www.manitousprings.org 

(719) 685-5089 

11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and host an interactive 

table about raptors and reptiles. Friends of 

Dinosaur Ridge will also have activity tables 

during Free Scout Day. 

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s 2013 

theater schedule includes “The Drowsy 

Chaperone” May 9-June 2; and “Jacques Brel is 

Alive and Well and Living in Paris” June 20-30. 

Call the box office, 634-5583 for tickets and 

information. The theater is at 30 W. Dale St. 

and has a free parking lot in front of the center. 

Buell Children’s Museum in Pueblo has an 

exhibit in which math plus toys multiplied by 

art equal smart fun. The “Under the Big Top: 

Math and Art” exhibit runs until June 1. Buell 

Children’s Museum, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave., in 

Pueblo, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday- 

Saturday. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 

for children. Visit http://www.sdc-arts.org for 

more information. 

The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. 

Santa Fe Ave. in Pueblo, has a Family Theater 

Series production, 

•“Todd Oliver and Friends,” at 11 a.m. and 

2 p.m. April 27. Tickets are $8 each; call 

719-295-7200. 

•“Swan Lake,” a Sangre de Cristo Ballet 

Performance, is April 19 at 7:30 p.m. and 

April 20 at 2 p.m. at the Sangre de Cristo Ballet 

theater, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave. in Pueblo. Tickets 

are $10 at the box office, 719-295-7200. 

The Denver Art Museum has opened a 

special exhibit that runs through April 28: 

“Georgia O’Keeffe in New Mexico: 

Architecture, Katsinam and the Land.” 

The exhibit features 53 of the renowned artist’s 

works. Regular admission is $10 for adult 

Colorado residents, $8 for military and students 

and $3 for ages 6-18. The museum is at 100 W. 

14th Ave. Parkway in downtown Denver. 

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has 

“Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice 

Age” in the museum through May 27. Visitors 

will be able to see fossils from the Ice Age 

unearthed near Snowmass Village in 2010. The 

museum is at 2001 Colorado Blvd. and is open 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Call 303-370-6000 for 

tickets for this special exhibition, $21 for adults 

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and $12 for juniors and students. Tickets are 

available on a timed schedule. Go online to 

pre-purchase tickets at http://www.DMNS.org. 

Disney on Ice presents “Treasure Trove” in the 

World Arena April 18-21. Opening night tickets 

start at $12; tickets for other shows are $15, 

$22 and $27 at http://www.Ticketswest.com 

or call the box office at 866-464-2626. 

Performances are at 7 p.m. April 18-20, and 

11 a.m. and 3 p.m. April 20. April 21 

performances are at 1 and 5 p.m. 

An additional concert of “An Evening of 

John Williams,” has been added. Tickets for 

the May 10, 8 p.m. concert are being sold at 

520-SHOW. The concert is in Pikes Peak Center, 

190 S. Cascade Ave. 

Free Earth Day celebration at Garden of the 

Gods is April 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day 

starts with a park cleanup at 8:30 a.m. (free 

lunch for all volunteers). The Visitor and Nature 

Center holds Earth Day activities, such as a 

chemical magic show at 10 and 11 a.m.; Native 

American dancers at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 

12:30 p.m. Throughout the event, there will be 

live animals, Segway demonstrations, wildlife 

touch tables, arts, crafts, children’s activities 

and more. Call 219-0108 for more information. 

Rock Ledge Ranch has free admission on Earth 

Day, April 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All living 

history areas, Rock Ledge house and Orchard 

House will be open. Rock Ledge Ranch is next to 

the 30th Street entrance to Garden of the Gods. 

Earth Day Walk at Garden of the Gods, 

sponsored by the Falcon Wanderers Volkssport 

Association, is April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 

p.m., beginning with registration at the Carriage 

House at Rock Ledge Ranch. The five-kilometer 

walk is moderate; the 10-kilometer walk is 

challenging. For information, call 494-9188 or 

231-9643 or email walking@falconwanderers.org. 

Cheyenne Mountain State Park holds a Family 

Mystery Hike April 14, beginning at the visitor 

center. The naturalist-led hike challenges families 

to solve a riddle, puzzle or mystery by clues 

along the trail. Call 576-2016 for reservations. 

A park pass or day pass ($7) is required. 

— Compiled by Nel Lampe 

NATIONAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITY 

Colorado Springs 

Associate, Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees 

Accounting 

Business 

Criminal Justice 

Healthcare 

Information Technology 

REDUCED 

TUITION 

for military 

personnel 

AND 

dependents* 

(719) 590-8300 

csadmissions@national.edu 

We are in the Ft. Carson Education Center 

every Tuesday 

Ask about our 

5 1/2 week classes! 

National American University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning 

Commission and a member of the North Central Association|www.ncahlc.org 

*Must provide a valid military ID card. 

6/2012 

The individual pictured is not an actual service member.


Denver Zoo 

By Nel Lampe 

exhibits are almost hidden behind others. 


The newest attraction in the zoo is the 

Toyota Elephant Passage that opened in June. 

The Denver Zoo is a top-rated zoo, with 3,500 The $50 million state-of-the-art exhibit is home to 

animals — 650 species, including king cobras, a Asian elephants, Malayan tapirs and on-horned 

black rhinoceros, camels, kangaroos and other rhinos. It’s the largest elephant habitat in North 

animals not commonly seen in many zoos. There America. The animals have large yards, crossing 

are 199 species that are considered endangered and locations and lots of water, as they move about the 

three species of animals that are extinct in the wild. exhibit. There’s a presentation at 10:40 a.m. daily. 

Even the carousel is devoted to endangered Bear Mountain is a historic exhibit, built 

animals. Designed by Carousel Works for the in 1918. It’s the nation’s first natural habitat. 

Denver Zoo, it has 48 hand-carved wooden animals The exhibit is designated a national historic 

in the style of antique carousels. For $2, riders site and is still used to house Asian black bears 

can choose a favorite endangered animal — and grizzlies. 

gorilla, elephant, zebra, lion, panda or polar bear. The Denver Zoo has felines, too. There are 

It’s near Monkey Island. Nearby is a small train Siberian tigers, jaguars, clouded leopards, Amur 

that costs $2 for a ride. 

leopards, a snow leopard, a mountain lion, a 

The Denver Zoo is big — 80 acres, with many Pallas cat and endangered cheetahs. 

exhibits, wide pathways, large trees, flowers and Camels are also in the zoo — both two 

benches. Because it’s on flat terrain, it is stroller humped (Bactrian) and the one hump (dromedary). 

or wagon friendly. Wagons and strollers can be Sharing space with the camels are rare red pandas 

rented near the entrance. 

and a Mongolian horse, also known as a Prezwalski 

Sometimes peacocks can be seen, roaming horse. The Prezwalski horse was unknown until 

around the zoo, and perhaps a duck family, a 1878 and is now believed to be extinct in the wild. 

rabbit or squirrel. 

Predator Ridge is a naturalistic and educational 

Visitors can spend hours trying to see all exhibit that is home to two prides of lions, 

the animals and exhibits or choose favorite spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, crowned 

animals and plan to catch one of the shows or cranes, a banded mongoose and porcupines. 

feeding times. Refer to the zoo map, as some Who doesn’t like monkeys? Check out Monkey 

Island, with its Capuchin monkeys. 

Just the Facts 

Primate Panorama has seven acres of monkeys 

and apes, in an exhibit that looks like a natural 

environment. Monkeys play and climb, gorillas 

• TRAVEL TIME — an hour plus 

• FOR AGES — anyone 

roam around their one acre. In the Great Apes 

building, orangutans and lowland gorillas are seen. 

Nearby is Shamba, a replicated African village. 

• TYPE — zoo 

• FUN FACTOR — ★★★★★ (Out of 5 

Northern Shores has more than three acres of 

tundra and paths, taking visitors past polar bears 

and underwater viewing windows. Arctic wolves 

stars) 

are in the exhibit as are otters, seals and sea 

• WALLET DAMAGE — $$$ ENTRANCE 

lions. The sea lion show is at 10 a.m. daily 

Tropical Discovery took 11 years to complete, 

$ = Less than $20 

$$ = $21 to $40 

$$$ = $41 to $60 

$$$$ = $61 to $80 

(BASED ON A FAMILY OF FOUR) 

and is almost hidden behind the Northern Shores 

exhibit. Tropical Discovery has an indoor rain 

forest, a cave, turtles and Komodo dragons. The 

Komodo dragon exhibit is the largest in the world. 

Some of the dragons may grow to 10 feet long 

and weigh 250 pounds. There are many tanks of 

fish, jellies and reptiles in the exhibit. 

Photo by Devin Fisher 

Several reticulated giraffes are in giraffe meadow in 

the Denver Zoo. An adult giraffe may reach 18 feet tall. 


Katie Barbier, a docent in training, talks to Denver Zoo visitors about cheetahs, an endangered species. 

A variety of birds are in Bird World. Dozens 

of flamingos in many shades of pink catch 

visitors’ attention. 

Other animals in the Denver Zoo include 

several giraffes in the giraffe meadow, wolves 

in Wolf Pack Woods, zebras, apes and orangutans. 

The zoo has several zebras, a musk ox and 

reindeer. Mountain lions, American bison and 

antelopes are in the North American exhibit. 

The Australian “outback” has several red 

kangaroos and an emu. 

Food and refreshments can be found in 

Samburu Grille, located near the entrance. There’s 

also food available in Northern Shores. Seasonally, 

other stands are located throughout the zoo. 

From March until the end of October, 

admission to the zoo is $15 for adults and $10 

for ages 3-11. Ages 2 and younger are admitted 

free. There’s a military discount of $2 for adult 

admission and $1 for children’s admission, for 

military cardholders. 

Three free admission days are scheduled for 

November: Nov. 4, 15 and 21. 

The Denver Zoo is open every day of the 

year, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

The Denver Zoo is located in City Park, 

2300 Steele St., and is next to the Denver Museum 

of Nature and Science. The phone number is 720- 

337-1401 and the website is http://denverzoo.org. 

Free parking is available in tree-lined 

parking lots near the entrance or in a multi-level 

underground parking lot west of the front 

entrance. The well-lit garage has easy access to 

the zoo by elevator, stairs or a pedestrian walkway. 

From Fort Carson, take Interstate 25 to 

Denver, taking the Colorado Avenue exit north. 

Stay on Colorado Avenue until reaching City 

Park. Signs point to the zoo. 

Several camels are in the Denver Zoo, both one-humped Bactrian and two-humped dromedary. 


Only about 400 Amur (Siberian) tigers remain in the wild. An Amur tiger is in the 

Denver Zoo. 


is cooled off 

with water 

spray in 

the new 

$50 million 

Toyota 

Passage 

exhibit in the 

Denver Zoo. 

Photo by Doug Rule An elephant 


Places to see in the 

Pikes Peak area.



35



37



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March 29, 2013 - Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group

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